Nigerian lawmakers have assented to a bill seeking the creation of 74 seats for women in the federal parliament.
The bill Sponsored by Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and 12 others aims to alter some sections of the Nigerian Constitution to create one “Special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory .”
One of the co-sponsors of the bill, Joshua Gana said the proposed law will address the stark gender imbalance in Nigeria’s National Assembly and sub-national levels.
The law aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but also valued in shaping the country’s legislative landscape and development.
Gana emphasized that gender equality is a fundamental principle of democracy, yet women’s representation in the legislature remains dismally low, despite the Constitution guaranteeing equal rights.
According to him, “In the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies, women accounted for only 6.4 per cent, 6.1 per cent, and 2.7 per cent of the Senate respectively; and 6.4 per cent, 3.05 per cent, and 4.7 per cent of the House of Representatives respectively.
He continued, “These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in our legislative houses at the national and sub-national levels.
“The rationale behind this amendment is grounded on the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
“Globally, Nigeria lags in women’s representation in parliament, ranking among the lowest.
Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance,” Gaba stated.
This bill when passed into law will be a stepping stone towards rectifying this injustice against women and creating a more inclusive, equitable society where women participate actively in politics.
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