Nigeria’s Reserved Seat Bill for Women Gains Momentum: A Call To Action For Fair and Just Distinguished & Honorable Members of The National Assembly

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill represents a groundbreaking step towards ensuring gender inclusivity in political representation. With women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, the underrepresentation in decision-making roles is a glaring anomaly that this bill seeks to address. Currently, women hold less than 5% of federal legislative seats, a figure that underscores the urgent need for legislative reform.

The Reserved Seat Bill for Women Participation at the Nigerian National Assembly is this a timely intervention which supported to a logical conclusion will make significant strides towards increasing female representation in the country’s legislative bodies.

This landmark bill aims to address the profound imbalance and under-representation of women in governance, promoting inclusive decision-making and a more inclusive,just,robust and equitable political process

*THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL ARE AS FOLLOWS*

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill proposes the creation of additional seats exclusively for women in both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Specifically, it calls for 37 new Senate seats—one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory—and 37 additional House of Representatives seats. Furthermore, it seeks to introduce three new seats per state across all 36 state assemblies, all to be contested exclusively by women

108 special seats allocated for women in the 36 state Houses of Assembly, comprising a provision of three seats per state.

These provisions will promote inclusive governance, address gender imbalance, and enhance decision-making processes.
Our Nation, Nigeria ranks/lags behind at 178 out of 182 countries in terms of women’s representation in national parliaments, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The bill has garnered support from civil society organizations and the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), citing potential economic benefits, including injecting $22.9 billion into the economy.

On behalf of the noble women of Ouo State,I salute the National Assembly for the courage and commitment apparent in the Bill getting this far to Public Hearing stage but it’s not yet Uhuru.After passing its second reading in the House of Representatives in July 2024, the bill is currently with the Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative

This serves as a Clarion Call to Action particularly for our Honorable Representatives and Distinguished Senators who wear the toga of “He for She” who are presently in the Red and Green Chambers of the Senate to walk the talk and put their vote and support behind this critical bill

This is the time to demonstrate the largeness of your hearts,to reciprocate the unstinting and unalloyed support of our women over the past few decades since the inception of democracy in our clime,an opportunity to throw your support behind women who posses the capacity to support our menfolk to add value to governance and nation building

For our able leaders,Distinguished and Honorable members of both Chambers of the National Assembly from all major political parties,this is the time to show that you do not consider the female gender as mere fodder for the campaign and electoral process ,who are to be cajoled to participate in the campaigns and for their votes and then discarded when the campaigns are over and elections won/lost and spoils of office distributed without carrying along these same women who laboured under the sun and rain to ensure the candidates of their various political parties are voted into office

We urge and enjoin our lawmakers to expedite the bill’s passage and ensure its implementation.

Together, we can create a more inclusive and representative government that truly reflects the diversity of Nigeria’s population.

*Let’s work together to shape a brighter,more robust,inclusive and sustainable future for Nigeria!*

*Hon( Mrs) Toyin BALOGUN*
COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION OYO STATE