Female lawmakers in the National Assembly have presented a bill seeking to reserve 182 additional seats for women across all tiers of legislative governance.
Spearheaded by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, the bill is being positioned as a crucial step toward achieving gender equity and inclusive governance in Nigeria.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Ogbara, who represents the Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, passionately urged Nigerians, civil society groups, and public officials to rally behind the legislative proposal.
She lamented the current state of female underrepresentation in elective offices despite the significant demographic and socio-economic contributions of women to national development.
“The time has come to dismantle the barriers that have historically hindered women’s participation in politics and governance,” Ogbara declared. “This bill is not merely about numbers. It is about creating an inclusive democracy where women’s voices, experiences, and solutions shape national development.”
Under the bill, one additional legislative seat per state—including the Federal Capital Territory—is to be created in both chambers of the National Assembly exclusively for female candidates.
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This would translate to 37 extra seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. Furthermore, the bill proposes three reserved seats for women in each State House of Assembly, thereby boosting female political participation at the sub-national level.
The bill is in alignment with global commitments such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5, which emphasizes gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
According to Ogbara, ensuring adequate female representation in policymaking is a vital strategy to promote inclusive growth, equitable governance, and stronger institutions.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, also lent her support to the initiative, describing it as a catalyst for unlocking Nigeria’s full potential.
“When women are part of decision-making, development is faster, more sustainable, and more inclusive. This bill is not just about increasing women in parliament—it’s about transforming the way we govern.”
Also backing the bill was Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Country Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, who hailed the effort as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.”
She noted that women currently occupy less than 5% of legislative positions in Nigeria, which falls far short of global standards and regional commitments under instruments such as the Maputo Protocol and the Beijing Declaration.
“This initiative is an important step toward dismantling systemic barriers and fostering inclusive governance. The leadership of the 10th National Assembly deserves commendation,” Attafuah said, drawing parallels to the leadership of Nigerian women across sectors, including sports, education, and entrepreneurship.
Support for the bill also came from traditional institutions. The Secretary-General of the Association of Women Traditional Title Holders in Nigeria, Nikky Onyeri, described the legislation as long overdue.
She praised President Bola Tinubu’s “gender-friendly disposition” and expressed confidence in the National Assembly’s willingness to do what she called “the right thing.”
“We plead with lawmakers and the executive to support and pass this bill,” Onyeri said. “This is an opportunity to correct historical exclusion and elevate the contributions of Nigerian women in shaping the nation’s future.”
Punch Newspaper
