Human Right lawyer and activist, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, has stated that the now-withdrawn bill seeking to impose compulsory voting, with punitive sanctions for non-compliance, is one that revealed how idle the Nigerian legislature has become.

Reacting to the development in Abuja, Adeyanju regretted that the introduction of the bill at a time when insecurity festers and youths face mass unemployment is both tone-deaf and profoundly unserious.

“The bill, which proposed a fine of up to ₦100,000 or six months’ imprisonment for eligible voters who abstain from elections without justification, shows a clear misunderstanding of how a democratic government should work.

“Rather than address the root causes of voter apathy, including widespread disillusionment with the political class, electoral malpractice, and the lack of tangible development outcomes, the bill sought to criminalise the public’s justified indifference to a system that continues to fail them.

“This move is a symptom of a National Assembly that is increasingly disconnected from the realities of the people it claims to represent. Many legislators appear to be underemployed, and politics in Nigeria has become a full-time job for people who have no other jobs.

“When politics becomes a professional career instead of a platform for service, lawmakers begin to devote their time to frivolous anti-people bills that do little to advance democracy.

“In saner climes, legislative positions are often held by professionals such as lawyers, academics, entrepreneurs, who bring their expertise into part-time public service.

“If it were a part-time institution made up of qualified professionals with actual careers outside government, it would be less likely to birth absurd bills like the now disgraced compulsory voting proposal.

“If lawmakers had any sincere interest in increasing voter turnout, they would begin by earning the public’s trust. They would pass laws that strengthen electoral transparency, reform campaign financing, ensure vote security, and hold elected officials accountable. Perhaps it’s time we restructure our political culture, beginning with the legislature.

“If these roles were part-time, remunerated modestly at the level of an NYSC corps member, and reserved for competent professionals with real-world experience who understand both the letter and spirit of the Constitution, the quality of legislation would rise, and the quantity of ridiculous bills would drastically fall.”