FIDA launches campaign for more women in parliament

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign to rally public support for the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the Joint Constitutional Reform Committees of the National Assembly.

Backed by UN Women Nigeria and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the initiative forms part of the wider project titled Advancing Women’s Inclusion and Representation in Leadership and Political Processes in Nigeria.

The campaign will be implemented in nine states, covering all geopolitical zones: Anambra and Enugu (South East), Edo (South South), Oyo (South West), Kogi (North Central), Adamawa (North East), and Sokoto, Kano, and Jigawa (North West).

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FIDA Nigeria’s Country Vice President, Mrs. Eliana Martins, said the campaign aims to build public consensus and intensify advocacy for constitutional reforms that will create special reserved seats for women in the National and State Assemblies.

“Our strategy involves inclusive stakeholder consultations, developing collective solutions, and incorporating community perspectives into a draft memorandum for presentation at National Assembly public hearings,” Martins stated.

The proposal under consideration seeks to establish 37 reserved seats each in the Senate and House of Representatives, along with 108 additional seats across State Assemblies.

Mr. Fikih Obaro, Senior Manager for Programs and Partnerships at FIDA Nigeria, explained that the campaign is geared towards fostering a gender-sensitive legal and political environment through collaborations with both government bodies and civil society organizations.

Obaro emphasized the project’s goals: “To increase public awareness and support for women’s political participation, consolidate citizen demands through a draft memorandum, and push for constitutional amendments that will guarantee 74 special seats for women in the National Assembly and 108 in State Assemblies.”

Martins urged Nigerians to actively support the push for greater women’s representation in governance, noting that inclusive politics is essential for sustainable development and democracy in the country.