The House of Representatives has adopted a bill seeking to confer citizenship rights on foreigners married to Nigerian women.

The “Act to Alter The Provision Of Chapter III of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 to provide for Citizenship By Marriage; and for Related Matters”, sponsored by Adekoya A. Abdul-Majid, was adopted on Tuesday. 

Joy Ezeilo, a consultant working with the committee, called the legislators’ attention to the discriminatory nature of the existing provision for citizenship in the constitution. 

“It is discriminatory and insulting to the collective sensibility of our women because our Constitution is absolutely silent over this matter,” the lead debate document said.

“For me, our Nation’s independence is incomplete if our women do not enjoy unfettered opportunities, rights and privileges as their male counterparts. That is the true definition of FREEDOM for me.”

Ms Ezeilo stated that the proposed bill seeks to amend Section 26 (2a) of the 1999 Constitution by opening citizenship by registration to male and female.

The proposed amendment was adopted by the house, despite its Deputy Leader, Idris Wase, raising concerns on the specifics proposed in the bill.

Mr Wase argued that there were differences in culture as regards the rights conferred on spouses in Nigeria.

The bill was presented before the Plenary in March 2020, where it was referred to the special committee on the review of the Constitution.

A similar bill seeking equal rights for Nigerian women had faced opposition from legislators.

Last December, Northern senators kicked against the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, saying its content contradicts Islam and northern cultural values.