We’re Prioritising Reserved Seats Bill – Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said the 10th Assembly is prioritising the Women Reserved Seats Bill to promote gender inclusion in politics, especially election into the legislature.

He said the bill proposes the creation of special seats in the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) and across all state Houses of Assembly for women.

Abbas stated this known in his remarks at the ongoing First General Meeting of the Asian–African Parliamentary Council holding in Beirut, Republic of Lebanon yesterday.

He said the temporary measure, set for review after four election cycles (16 years), aims to addressing the significant under-representation, where women currently hold only 64 of 1,460 parliamentary seats nationwide.

“It seeks to strengthen democracy, reduce gender-based abuses, and unlock Nigeria’s full potential,” the speaker said.

Abbas also said the 10th House is integrating technology and AI to improve parliamentary processes through digital platforms that promote transparency and efficiency in the National Assembly, as highlighted in its collaborations with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

He also called for trade and investment frameworks between Africa and Asia, especially for green energy and digital economies.

The speaker stated that the proposed Asian-African Parliamentary Council, which he approved, will enable African and Asian parliaments to address shared challenges and amplify the voices of the two continents in global affairs.

“I urge us all to prioritise establishing frameworks for investment, trade, and the exchange of ideas. Africa’s resources should complement Asia’s progress in green energy and digital economies. In a changing world, our parliaments must lead the way in fostering partnerships based on opportunity and innovation,” he said.