Senate President Godswill Akpabio has met with top women leaders pushing for the passage of the Special Seats Bill.
The delegation included Hon. Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, President of the League of Women Voters; Barr. Ebere Ifendu, President of the Women in Politics Forum; Ms. Ene Obi, a leading gender advocate and former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria; and Chief Osasu Igbinedion, founder of the TOS Network and a vocal campaigner for women’s rights.
This visit was part of a wider advocacy effort to ensure more Nigerian women get into political leadership positions through constitutional reforms.
The Special Seats Bill, which is waiting for a public hearing at the National Assembly, aims to change the 1999 Constitution.
It proposes new reserved seats for women in all levels of Nigeria’s legislative structure. If passed, the bill will provide one extra seat for women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It also suggests creating three special seats for women in every State House of Assembly.
These additional seats will not replace the current ones but will serve to boost women’s participation in politics. The goal is to improve gender balance in governance and encourage more women to contest for other elective offices.
“This bill will help create fair political opportunities for women across the country,” one of the delegates said during the meeting.
The bill outlines that the new seats would only take effect after the current term of the National Assembly ends. It also includes a 16-year review period to assess progress and impact.
Civil Society and Gender Advocates Back the Bill
Women groups and civil society organisations across Nigeria have been mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass the bill. They argue that women remain underrepresented in Nigerian politics and governance.
Currently, women hold less than 10% of elected positions in Nigeria, despite making up nearly half of the population.
Supporters of the bill believe that giving women guaranteed seats will encourage their involvement in the democratic process. They also say this move will build stronger, more inclusive policies for national development.
Many lawmakers have shown support, but the bill still needs broad backing from both chambers of the National Assembly before it can pass.
“We are not asking for favours, we are demanding a fair share of our country’s leadership,” a gender advocate said.
If approved, the bill could become a game-changer in improving equality and women’s voices in decision-making at all levels of government.
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