In a significant move towards gender equality, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for a second reading a bill seeking the creation of 74 seats for women in the National Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 others, aims to amend Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to allocate one special seat reserved exclusively for women in both the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The proposed legislation, if enacted, will come into effect after the current term of the National Assembly elapses and will be subject to review every 16 years.
Additionally, the bill seeks to amend Section 91 of the Constitution to provide for three special seats reserved exclusively for women in State Houses of Assembly.
Addressing Under-Representation
Leading the debate, Joshua Gana, a member representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency in Niger State and a co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized the urgent need to address the profound imbalance and under-representation of women in the National Assembly and at sub-national levels.
He stated, “The proposed law will 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.”
Gana lamented the alarmingly low representation of women in the legislature, noting that women accounted for only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the Senate in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies respectively, and 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% of the House of Representatives in the same periods.
He argued that these statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in legislative houses at both the national and sub-national levels.
Global Comparisons and Affirmative Action
Highlighting Nigeria’s lagging position in women’s representation in parliament compared to global standards, Gana pointed out, “Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance.”
Support and Opposition
The bill garnered broad support from various lawmakers. House spokesman Akin Rotimi acknowledged a broad consensus for more women representation in parliament.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also backed the bill, stating, “We must make a deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them.” Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers supported Chinda’s view, asserting that women should be given a better opportunity in politics.
However, the bill faced opposition from some quarters. Ghali Tijani from Kano State suggested that political parties should deploy mechanisms to improve 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 opposed the bill, arguing that it was at variance with the provisions of the constitution.
Next Steps
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, its proponents and detractors will continue to debate its implications and the best approach to ensuring gender equality in Nigeria’s political landscape.
