Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, has declared support for the Reserved Seats for Women bill, a constitutional proposal seeking to increase female representation at all levels of Nigeria’s legislature.
The bill, currently under consideration, proposes one additional seat for women in both chambers of the national assembly from each of the 36 states and the FCT.
It also seeks to create three special seats for women in every state house of Assembly, with implementation set to begin after the current assembly’s term, subject to review after 16 years.
Akpabio made the commitment on Thursday during a courtesy visit by an advocacy delegation led by Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche, a gender equity advocate and CEO of TOS Group.
Advertisement
The visit brought together major women’s rights movement players, including UN Women, Women in Politics Forum, Nigerian League of Women Voters, and representatives of the Gates Foundation.
Also present at the meeting were Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi Central senatorial district; Abba Moro, representing Benue South ; Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, representing Rivers West; Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, and other members of the senate.
Igbinedion-Ogwuche, who has been instrumental in mobilising support for the bill, said the statistics of women in political leadership remain troubling.
Advertisement
“Women make up less than five per cent of the National Assembly. That’s 18 out of 469 lawmakers in a country where women are nearly half the population. That number is not just low — it is heartbreaking,” she said.
The bill, which Nkeiruka Onyejeocha first introduced during the ninth assembly, is now being sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, and 12 other members of the house.
