On Tuesday, the House of Representatives advanced a bill to its second reading that aims to create 74 seats dedicated for women in the National Assembly. This legislation, backed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 other members, proposes amendments to Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The amendments would introduce a “special seat” in both the Senate and House of Representatives exclusively for women in each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
If enacted, the law would come into effect after the current National Assembly’s term ends and would be reviewed every 16 years. The bill also seeks to amend Section 91 of the constitution to establish three special seats in each State House of Assembly exclusively for women.
Joshua Gana, representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency in Niger State and a co-sponsor of the bill, led the debate. He emphasized that the legislation addresses the significant under-representation of women in legislative bodies at both national and sub-national levels. He stated that the bill is based on the principle of equitable representation and aims to empower women by ensuring their active participation in legislative processes and national development. Gana highlighted that despite constitutional guarantees of equal rights, women’s representation in the legislature remains “alarmingly low.”
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Gana presented data showing that women accounted for only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the Senate in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies, respectively. In the House of Representatives, women made up 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% in the same periods. He argued that these figures demonstrate an urgent need for measures to ensure fair representation of women in legislative bodies. Gana noted that globally, Nigeria ranks low in women’s parliamentary representation, unlike countries like Rwanda and Andorra that have made significant progress through affirmative action.
Akin Rotimi, the House spokesperson, stated that there is a broad consensus on the need for more women in parliament. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda supported the bill, stressing the need to address existing deficiencies and make concerted efforts to solve such problems. Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers echoed Chinda’s views, advocating for better opportunities for women in politics.
However, some lawmakers opposed the bill. Ghali Tijani from Kano suggested that political parties should enhance mechanisms to boost women’s participation in politics rather than reserving special seats. Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala from Oyo, Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom, and Billy Osawaru from Edo also opposed the bill, arguing it conflicted with constitutional provisions.
Despite the opposition, Kalu put the bill to a voice vote after a debate, and it passed as the “ayes” were louder than the “nays.” A similar proposal was rejected during the 9th assembly’s constitution amendment process. This time, the House of Representatives has moved the bill forward, reflecting a significant push towards increasing female political participation. If the bill becomes law, it will be reviewed every 16 years after taking effect following the current National Assembly’s term.
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