Abuja: President Bola Tinubu and key stakeholders have voiced their support for constitutional reforms aimed at passing a bill that would allocate special seats for women in Nigeria’s National Assembly. This move follows the collection of over one million signatures from Nigerian women endorsing the bill.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the proposed legislation seeks to designate one female senator and one female House of Representatives member from each state. It also calls for one woman from each of the three senatorial zones, enhancing gender parity in political representation. During the National Public Hearing on the Constitution Alteration Bill in Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Mr. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted the need for a constitution that aligns with Nigeria’s evolving realities.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, emphasized the importance of public participation in the constitutional amendment process, urging Nigerians to engage actively. Akpabio, represented by Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, Deputy Senate Majority Whip, stressed that the constitution belongs to the entire Nigerian populace. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, described the bill as a crucial legal mechanism to address historical gender imbalances, not as an act of pity but as a step toward inclusive governance.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu underlined the transformative nature of the proposed amendments, including the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. Kalu stated that the bill aims to correct systemic exclusion and guarantee gender balance in government appointments. Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, President of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, submitted the signatures, asserting that the bill is about ensuring women’s rightful place in governance and correcting the current gender disparity.
International support for the initiative was also evident, with backing from Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria; Gautier Mignot, Ambassador of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; and Mohammed Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria.