Deji Adeyanju condemns lawmakers over withdrawn compulsory voting bill

The popular human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned the National Assembly over the withdrawn bill seeking to impose compulsory voting with sanctions for non compliance.

Adeyanju on Monday described the bill as tone deal and profoundly unserious, arguing that it reveals how idle the legislature has become.

Adeyanju in a statement revealed that the bill’s proposal to fine citizens for not voting shows a clear misunderstanding of how a democratic government should work.

“He argued that rather than addressing the root causes of voter apathy, the bill sought to criminalise the public’s justified indifference to a system that continues to fail them.

“He further stated that the National Assembly is increasingly disconnected from the realities of the people it claimed to represent.

“Adeyanju suggested that many legislators appear to be underemployed and that politics in Nigeria has become a full time job for people who have no other jobs.

“He proposed that legislative positions should be part time, made up of qualified professionals with defined careers outside government.

“Adeyanju further suggested that lawmakers should earn a modest remuneration, similar to that of National Youth Service Corps (NTSC) members which is N77,000.

“He further emphasized that if Lawmakers had any sincere interest in in increasing voter turnout, they would begin by earning the public’s trust.

“He advised that they would pass laws that strengthen electoral transparency, reform campaign financing and ensured voters security” he concluded.