Women Seek National Assembly, Monarchs’ Support For Special Seats

Women leaders from various political parties have intensified their calls on the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and the media to support the Special Seats for Women Bill as lawmakers prepare to vote on the constitutional amendment.

The appeal was made in Abuja at a press conference organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, where the Nigerian Women and National Women Leaders’ Forum of Political Parties urged stakeholders to ensure the bill scales through the 10th National Assembly.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national woman leader, Dr Mary Alile, said the legislators have a duty to represent their constituencies and promote equity in governance by supporting the bill.

“We call on senators and members of the House of Representatives to discharge their responsibility to ensure fairness for all Nigerians. State governments should support the bill and encourage their Houses of Assembly to pass the amendment. Nigeria’s democratic future depends on it,” she said.

Alile also appealed to civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth groups, students, and the media to sustain advocacy and public engagement.

On her part, the minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the planned vote as a historic moment, coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender-based Violence.

She noted that Nigeria had a significant gender representation gap at the National Assembly and in other decision-making spaces, stating that the bill aimed to address historic imbalances through the creation of additional seats for women.

In a separate event, the executive director of PLAC, Mr Clement Nwankwo, said the bill had become a defining issue for the 10th National Assembly, adding that it now reflects the popular demand of Nigerians, not just women.

“We expect that the National Assembly will do what citizens are asking. If this bill is not passed, Nigerians may judge the 10th Assembly a failure, regardless of other achievements,” Nwankwo said.

The chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, described the bill as more than a legislative proposal, stating that it embodies the collective commitment to securing women’s rightful place in governance.

“We are building a strong case for why this legislation is necessary. As we prepare for the upcoming vote, possibly on December 9, we are counting votes, collecting signatures and engaging lawmakers both in the House and Senate,” she said.