In a significant step towards promoting gender equality in Nigerian politics, a bill aiming to create 74 seats for women in the National Assembly has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, the green chamber voted in favor of the bill, signaling a move to encourage greater female participation in the political arena.
Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers, the bill seeks to amend Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the constitution to establish one “special seat reserved exclusively for women” in both the Senate and House of Representatives for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The bill is designed to take effect after the current National Assembly’s term concludes and will be subject to review every 16 years.
Additionally, the bill proposes altering Section 91 of the constitution to allocate three special seats “reserved exclusively” for women in the state houses of assembly.
Leading the debate, co-sponsor Joshua Gana highlighted the bill’s objective to address the “profound imbalance and under-representation of women” in both national and sub-national legislative bodies. He emphasized the bill’s foundation on the principle of equitable representation, aiming to empower women by ensuring their active contribution to shaping legislative and developmental outcomes.
“The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy,” Gana asserted. He pointed out the alarmingly low representation of women in the legislature, noting that women accounted for only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the Senate in the 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies respectively, and 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% of the House of Representatives in the same periods.
Gana stressed the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify women’s voices in legislative processes. He argued that the bill’s temporary measure of seat reservation is grounded in fairness and inclusivity, citing countries like Rwanda and Andorra, where affirmative action has significantly advanced gender equality in governance.
Supporting the bill, House spokesperson Akin Rotimi noted a “broad consensus” on the necessity of increasing female representation in parliament. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to address the deficiency proactively. Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers also supported the bill, advocating for better opportunities for women in politics.
However, some lawmakers opposed the bill, arguing it contradicts constitutional provisions for equal opportunity. Ghali Tijani from Kano suggested political parties should instead implement mechanisms to enhance women’s participation. Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala from Oyo, Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom, and Billy Osawaru from Edo also cited constitutional violations as grounds for their opposition.
Following a heated debate, Kalu proposed to withdraw the bill, acknowledging a potential bias as the lead sponsor while presiding. However, Ahmad Satomi from Borno urged Kalu to put the bill to a voice vote. The “ayes” prevailed over the “nays,” leading Kalu to rule in favor of the bill’s progression.
A similar bill was considered during the 9th assembly’s constitution amendment process but was ultimately voted down by both the Senate and House of Representatives.
