House of Representatives Advances Bill to Create 74 Reserved Seats for Women in National Assembly

 **House of Representatives Advances Bill to Create 74 Reserved Seats for Women in National Assembly**

Abuja, Nigeria — The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for a second reading a significant bill aimed at creating 74 seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly. Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 others, the bill seeks to amend Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to ensure one "special seat" for women in both the Senate and House of Representatives for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). If enacted, the bill will come into effect after the current National Assembly's term ends and will be subject to review every 16 years.

Additionally, the bill proposes altering Section 91 of the Constitution to allocate three special seats for women in each State House of Assembly.

Leading the debate, co-sponsor Joshua Gana, representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency in Niger State, highlighted the bill's intent to address the "profound imbalance and under-representation of women in the National Assembly and at sub-national levels." Gana emphasized that the proposed law is founded on the principle of equitable representation, aiming to empower women by ensuring their active participation in the legislative process and the overall development of the nation.

"The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy," Gana stated, lamenting the alarmingly low representation of women despite the constitution's guarantee of equal rights. He pointed out that in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies, women constituted only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the Senate, respectively, and 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% of the House of Representatives.

Gana argued that these statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify women's voices in legislative bodies at both national and sub-national levels. He cited global examples, such as Rwanda and Andorra, where affirmative action has significantly improved gender equality in governance.

Supporting the bill, House spokesman Akin Rotimi noted a "broad consensus" for increased women's representation in parliament. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also backed the bill, stressing the necessity of addressing gender imbalances. "We must make a deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them," Chinda stated.

Other lawmakers, including Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers, echoed these sentiments, advocating for better opportunities for women in politics. However, some members, such as Ghali Tijani from Kano State, suggested that political parties should instead adopt mechanisms to enhance women's participation in politics. Opponents like Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala from Oyo, Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom, and Billy Osawaru from Edo argued that the bill conflicted with the Constitution's provisions.

The bill's progression marks a significant step towards addressing gender disparity in Nigeria's legislative bodies, aligning with global efforts to achieve gender equality in governance.