CSO Rallies Support For Women’s Seats Bill

A civil society group, Inclusive Access Development (IAD), has advocated support for the bill seeking to ensure reserved legislative seats for women.

The proposed legislation, Reserved Seats for Women Bill 2025, would guarantee women dedicated seats in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.

The group said although women constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in political and decision-making spaces remains alarmingly low.
It believed that the bill offers a practical solution to bridge this gap and institutionalise gender inclusion in governance.
Speaking during an advocacy workshop in Gombe, executive director of IAD, Sadiq Yahaya, said the organisation will not relent until the bill is passed, assented to, and domesticated across the country.

“We are determined to see this bill through – from passage to full implementation – so that Nigerian women can finally have a voice in governance, just as it has successfully worked in countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.”

He expressed optimism that the bill, which has already passed first and second readings at the National Assembly, stands a good chance of becoming law.

However, he stressed that continuous public engagement, both online and offline, remains vital to sustain momentum.

Yahaya particularly urged stakeholders in northern Nigeria to help overcome cultural and religious barriers that often limit women’s political participation.

“When this bill becomes law, our women, especially in the North, must be encouraged and empowered to contest for the reserved seats so that we can achieve true inclusive governance,” he said.

At the workshop, gender advocate and resource person, Zainab Abdulfatah, lamented the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legislature, describing it as a major setback for democracy.

She explained that “The Reserved Seats Bill is crucial because inclusiveness and representation are the lifeblood of democracy. Once we begin to see women as capable of driving development, that mindset shift alone will change our society.”

Abdulfatah called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and civil society organisations to return to their communities and advocate for the bill’s benefits.

Also addressing participants, Khalid Ahmed Kumo, Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, walked the audience through the lawmaking process and ongoing constitutional amendment efforts.

He expressed confidence that the bill will scale through, citing the Speaker’s strong support and the generally positive disposition of lawmakers.

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1383) seeks to amend the constitution to create exclusive legislative seats for women – 37 in the Senate, 37 in the House of Representatives, and three per State House of Assembly – totalling 108 additional seats nationwide. These seats would be contested by women on separate ballots without affecting existing male-held positions.

Participants at the workshop commended IAD’s commitment and pledged to support the campaign for the bill’s speedy passage and assent.