Why Nigeria needs special legislative seats for women now

BY SUZAN IRONSI

Nigeria, often called the “Giant of Africa,” faces another moment of truth. The question now is whether its political structures can fully harness the nation’s potential by intentionally including the women who represent half of its population. Out of 469 lawmakers in Nigeria’s National Assembly, only 20 are women. At the state level, 14 houses of assembly have no female members at all.

For Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese, a representative from Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives in Edo state, this reality carries a quiet, personal weight. She, like many Nigerian women, is accustomed to a bittersweet observation; that her chance of encountering a female parliamentarian is more likely through a television screen than within her own constituency.

This observation is highlighted by witnessing the fierce legal and political hurdles faced by figures like Senator Natasha Akpoti, illustrating how daunting the pathway remains. As Louisa herself argued at a recent webinar, “the extra seats for women is what we need now to overcome the discrimination against women in decision-making positions.”

However, not everyone agrees that the Special Seats Bill is the right solution. Ayisha Osori, a notable voice in Nigeria’s political discourse, recently argued in a piece titled ‘No to the SSW Bill’ that if the Special Seats for Women Bill becomes law, it will not reform Nigeria’s political economy or improve the lives of the majority of citizens. “What we are up against in Nigeria is systemic,” she wrote, “and nothing short of uprooting that system will make a difference.” Other opinions on the bill exist, but at the root, the numbers tell a clear story.

Women make up just 4.26% of lawmakers in the national assembly and hold only 4.5% of the approximately 991 seats across all 36 state assemblies. This low representation takes on even greater significance when contrasted with other major African nations. For instance, while Nigeria is widely regarded as the continent’s most populous country, nations such as Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have adopted affirmative action models that have resulted in significantly higher female representation. Ethiopia leads with an impressive 41.3% of its parliamentary seats held by women, while the DRC has achieved 12.8%.

These figures underscore the peculiar irony that despite its status as a leading political and economic power, Nigeria has lagged behind. However, the nation now has a crucial opportunity to change this story. The country is at a critical juncture in addressing its chronic underrepresentation of women in parliament. The national assembly is preparing for a crucial vote on the Special Seats Bill for Women, and the question now is whether enough people understand what is at stake.

The conversation has moved beyond basic awareness to a phase where fostering deep, evidence-based understanding is essential. Given the media’s power to shape public opinion and drive reform, it’s worth commending the journalists, commentators, and advocates who have consistently provided context and clarity on this landmark bill, effectively owning the narrative across platforms.

But this point was not reached by chance; It has taken years of advocacy, research, and persistence.

Leadership and Advocacy at the Forefront

The speaker of the house of representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, along with parliamentary officials, co-sponsors of the bill, and male allies, have supported multi-stakeholder advocacy efforts and facilitated the bill’s reintroduction to the 10th Assembly to keep it on the legislative agenda.

Behind the scenes, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has worked to sensitise lawmakers on models of seat reservation that reflect Nigeria’s political culture and promote legal frameworks that can pass and deliver real change.

With growing advocacy convened by several women’s groups, media coverage of the bill has expanded beyond episodic announcements tied to public events.

Learning from Africa’s Experience

Across Africa, several countries use an “additional seats” model, creating extra seats reserved specifically for women, without displacing existing members:

∙ Tanzania – Women’s “Special Seats” make up 30% of the national assembly, allocated to political parties in proportion to their general seats won.

∙ Uganda – Each district elects a Woman Representative to Parliament in addition to regular MPs.

∙ Rwanda – 24 of 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies are reserved for women, elected by electoral colleges.

∙ Burundi – The constitution mandates at least 30% women in both legislative chambers, adding extra seats if needed.

∙ Lesotho (Senate) – Certain seats are appointed with a gender quota in addition to elected ones.

These examples demonstrate that, when designed carefully, reserved seat systems can work. Still, beyond the numbers, the impact of women in parliament becomes most visible through lived examples.

Putting a Face to the Cause

A key argument for greater female representation in Nigeria’s legislature can be found in the work of Kafilat Ogbara, a lawmaker representing the Kosofe federal constituency in Lagos state. Serving as the chairman of the house committee on women affairs and social development, Ogbara’s efforts provide a clear example of how women in power drive tangible change. She has actively championed women’s empowerment in crucial sectors, notably through initiatives that provide scholarships and training for women in technology, and by sponsoring a bill to increase the enlistment of women in national security agencies, including the police and armed forces.

These actions are not just social gestures; they are strategic investments in human capital that directly enhance national productivity and security. Her work is a glimpse of what could be achieved with more women in the legislature. Research from the World Bank and the UN confirms this correlation, showing that when women are at the decision-making table, nations see significant gains in economic growth, health outcomes, and social development.

Countries with higher female parliamentary representation are more likely to pass laws that protect women’s economic rights and improve public goods like clean water and education, benefiting the entire population. A greater number of women in parliament could further mean more targeted policies that lead to more balanced and productive outcomes. This potential reinforces the importance of establishing a clear pathway for women’s enhanced legislative representation, as outlined in the proposed Special Seats Bill.

The Nigerian Pathway

The proposed Special Seats Bill is a clear legislative approach being considered as a temporary measure. It would create 74 additional seats in the national assembly and 108 additional seats in State Assemblies, establishing a structured and intentional pathway for women’s political inclusion. This temporary measure is further supported by a sunset clause that provides for a review of the reserved seats provision after 16 years or four election cycles.

These are not “handouts.” They are structured opportunities for qualified women to participate in party nomination processes and get elected on their own merit.

From grassroots organisers to seasoned professionals, women, especially young women, women with disabilities, and women from rural areas would have a legitimate pathway into formal politics.

Research by PLAC shows implementing the bill would cost less than 1% of the national budget and under 5% of the national assembly’s budget. It’s a low-cost, high-impact reform with the potential to deliver long-term democratic dividends.

This bill is not a cure-all. As many advocates point out, it is a pathway; a chance to correct systemic exclusion, not a substitute for the hard work of political competition.

When the national assembly reconvenes from recess in September, the bill is expected to move to a critical stage that will set the tone for subsequent deliberations. Ultimately, for a country as ambitious as Nigeria, upcoming deliberations will shape the future of women’s enhanced legislative representation.

Adopting special legislative seats for women could signal more than reform. It could mark a pivotal moment in the constitutional amendment process, where representative structures are deliberately amended to include women. This would ensure that legislative representation reflects Women’s enhanced presence and benefits from their contributions, advocacy, leadership, and decision-making.

Suzan Ironsi, a media and communications professional, can be contacted via [email protected]