On Wednesday, the House of Reps took a big step, passing a second reading of a bill to tweak Nigeria’s constitution and let foreigners buy citizenship with big cash. This Citizenship by Investment Bill, pushed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and others, wants to pull in foreign money by giving Nigerian passports to investors who drop a fat stack into our economy or key projects. It’s all about boosting cash flow for Nigeria m, and lawmakers are buzzing about it.
They didn’t stop there, another bill, the Indigene Status Bill, sailed through too. This one says if you’re born in a state and stay 10 years, or move there and pay taxes for a decade, you’re an indigene simple as that. Plus, if a woman marries a local guy for five years, she’s in, even if the marriage ends, as long as she wants to stay. House leader Prof Julius Ihonvbere laid it out, saying these rules will clear up who gets state perks like jobs or political spots.
The House is also shaking things up with death penalty laws looking to match global standards and setting firm rules for the Accountant-General’s office. That last bill says the federal money boss gets four years, maybe eight, and retires at 60 or after 35 years of work.