On Tuesday, a major achievement for women’s rights was reached as a bill aimed at designating 74 seats in the federal parliament specifically for women successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill Sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and 12 others seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to create one “Special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory .”
The proposed legislation aims to take effect after the current National Assembly term expires and will be reviewed every 16 years,” the bill reads.
Additionally, it seeks to amend Section 91 of the constitution to reserve three special seats in the State Houses of Assembly “exclusively” for women.
Joshua Gana, a representative from Niger State and co-sponsor of the bill, led the debate, stating that the proposed law will address the gender imbalance in governance, noting that “the bill will provide a platform for women to participate in politics and decision-making processes.
“Profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the National Assembly and at sub-national levels.”
Gana added that the bill is “Anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape and the overall development of our nation. The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy,” he said.
He lamented that even though the constitution guarantees equal rights, the representation of women in the legislature has been “Alarmingly low.”
The lawmaker noted, “In the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies, women accounted for only 6.4 per cent, 6.1 per cent, and 2.7 per cent of the Senate respectively; and 6.4 per cent, 3.05 per cent, and 4.7 per cent of the House of Representatives respectively.
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in our legislative houses at the national and sub-national levels.
“The rationale behind this amendment is grounded on the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
“Globally, Nigeria lags in women’s representation in parliament, ranking among the lowest. Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance.”
In his contribution, the spokesman for the House, Akin Rotimi, explained there is a “Broad consensus” for more women representation in the parliament.
The Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, expressed his support for the bill, emphasizing the need for the parliament to address the existing gender imbalance and ensure a more inclusive representation.
He elaborated, “We must make a deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them,” he said.
Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers, corroborated Chinda’s argument, saying women should be given a “better opportunity” in politics.
In the parliamentary debate, Ghali Tijani, a representative from Kano State, argued that instead of designating special seats for women, political parties should implement strategies to enhance women’s involvement in politics.
His viewpoint was shared by Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala from Oyo, Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom, and Billy Osawaru from Edo, who rejected the bill, citing its incompatibility with the constitutional provisions.
Notably, a similar bill had been discussed in the previous legislative session, but it failed to garner sufficient support to pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
