Reps consider bill to confer citizenship on foreigners married to Nigerian women

The house of representatives is considering conferring citizenship rights on foreigners married to Nigerian women.

The bill, which is sponsored by Akin Alabi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Egbeda federal constituency of Oyo state, passed a second reading during plenary on Thursday.

The bill seeks to amend section 26 of the 1999 constitution, which addresses citizenship by registration.

Currently, section 26(1) states that a “person to whom the provisions of this section apply may be registered” as a citizen of Nigeria, if the president is satisfied that:

(a) they are of good character;
(b) they have demonstrated a clear intention to reside in Nigeria; and
(c) they have taken the oath of allegiance prescribed in the seventh schedule of the constitution.

Section 26 (2) (a) stipulates that the provisions of this section shall apply to any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria.

Section 26(2)(b) extends eligibility to any person of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria, provided that at least one of their grandparents was a Nigerian citizen.

The proposed amendment seeks to replace the word “woman” in section 26(2)(a) with “person”, thereby making the provision gender-neutral.

SPECIFIC SEATS FOR WOMEN

A bill seeking to create “specific seats” for women in the national and state houses of assembly also passed second reading.

The bill is sponsored by Kafilat Ogbara, a lawmaker from Lagos state.

Similarly, a bill to ensure the inclusion of youths and persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in political appointments scaled second reading.

Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Imo, is the bill’s sponsor.