The National Assembly on Monday pledged to consider the Special Seats Bill currently before it, following sustained advocacy by Nigerian women groups.
Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi Jr., who represents Ekiti North, gave the assurance while addressing protesting women at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Special Seats Bill seeks to reserve additional seats for women in both the National and State Assemblies to guarantee minimum representation.
Rotimi said the proposed legislation was gathering momentum, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu had endorsed the constitutional amendment promoting women’s inclusion.
“The low level of representation of women in the National Assembly is something that is important to both men and women.
“We have so many men and women in the assembly who believe that having 14 women out of 360 in the House of Representatives is a gross injustice, and having four women out of 109 in the Senate is a gross injustice.
“Having over 20 plus seats in some of the state houses of assembly that don’t have a single woman is a gross injustice.
“So I want you to know that we have heard you, we have listened to you, and this has been reflected in the Constitutional Amendment Bills that are currently before the National Assembly,” he said.
Rotimi disclosed that approximately 40 constitutional amendment bills were before the National Assembly and would be subjected to a vote by lawmakers in the coming weeks.
“I can assure you that your advocacy has been listened to. But it is also important that you reach out to your members and your senators to impress it upon them that this is what you want.”
He added that the constitutional amendment bills would be voted on electronically, stressing that lawmakers had tested the technology to ensure seamless and transparent operation.
According to him, voting electronically will ensure every member’s and senator’s vote is publicly known.
“This is a bill that I believe Mr President would pass if it gets to him. As you know, our excellency, the first lady, a former senator, has also been advocating for this bill.
“So I’m here basically to let you know that we hear you, and we’re going to take that feedback to the members and the leadership of the NASS.”
According to him, once deliberations on the Electoral Act Amendments are concluded, lawmakers will proceed to vote on the 40 constitutional amendment bills, including the reserved seats proposal.
Earlier, one of the leaders of the protesting women, Ene Obe, who identified herself as a Nigerian citizen, said the women were at NASS to remind them of the importance of the bill.
Obe noted that democracy and fair representation go hand in hand, stressing that there would be increased economic growth when more women are included in governance.
Also, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, Chairperson, Women Political Participation Working Group, stated that the Special Seat Bill was also as important as the Electoral Act.
“We want you to consider this bill alongside the Electoral Act because it is also critical to the 2027 General Elections.
“The idea is to ensure that more women participate in the 2027 General Elections. It has to do with electoral integrity.”
Speaking further, Country Director of ActionAid, Mr Andrew Mamedu, noted that women’s representation in Nigerian politics had been on a decline.
He added that women ought not to be begging for the passage of the bill, adding that it was their right as citizens of Nigeria.
He called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to step up, noting that under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), more women were included in governance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that different women groups, including International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), among others, were present at the rally.
