Reps adopts bill seeking to confer citizenship on foreigners who marry Nigerian women

Nigerian women are in for a major win as a bill seeking to confer citizenship rights on foreigners married to them has been adopted by the committee of the House of Representatives established to amend the 1999 Constitution.

The bill was adopted following its presentation by consultants working with the lawmakers on the amendment of the document, PremiumTimes reports.

According to the report, Joy Ezeilo, one of the consultants working with the committee, while presenting the recommendation of the consultants, said existing provision in the constitution is discriminatory against women.

The existing law only allows citizenship by registration to be conferred on foreigners married to Nigerian men. She said the bill seeks to amend section26 (2a) of the 1999 Constitution by opening citizenship by registration to male and female.

The proposal would still follow Nigeria’s rigorous constitutional amendment procedure, including passage by both chambers of the National Assembly, approval of at least 24 of the 36 state legislatures and presidential assent.

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