Women’s groups call for immediate passage of special seats bill to boost representation

Women’s rights advocates on Monday staged a peaceful rally at the National Assembly, calling for the urgent passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill as part of ongoing constitutional and electoral reforms.

The demonstrators, drawn from women’s groups, civil society organisations, and professional bodies, warned that failure to pass the bill before 2027 could cost Nigeria another decade of democratic progress.

Addressing the crowd, Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency and Advocacy, stressed the stark gender imbalance in the current legislature. “In this 10th Assembly, women represent less than five per cent of the population that accounts for over 49 per cent of Nigeria’s citizens. That is unacceptable in any serious democracy,” she said. Nwadishi urged lawmakers to amend the Constitution to guarantee reserved parliamentary seats for women.

Broadcast journalist and founder of Gender Strategy Advancement International, Adaora Onyechere, described the proposed law as a test of political will for the 10th National Assembly. She highlighted Nigeria’s poor global ranking, with women occupying less than four per cent of National Assembly seats, and cited examples from Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Namibia where affirmative frameworks improved female parliamentary participation.

“Passing the Reserved Seats for Women Bill is not a favour to women; it is an investment in Nigeria’s stability, legitimacy, and future,” Onyechere said, stressing that timely passage would give female candidates enough time to prepare for the 2027 elections.

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) also endorsed the rally, calling it a historic step toward equitable governance. In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Aishatu Ibrahim, and Secretary, Wasilah Ladan, NAWOJ described the demonstration as a “movement” demanding justice and fair representation.

Former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, commended the peaceful nature of the rally, emphasizing that participants respected legislative protocols and remained outside the Assembly complex. “We are waiting for the members of the National Assembly to come out and address us. We are orderly, patient, and non-violent,” she said.

Representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, including Rahila Dauda, also joined the rally, urging lawmakers to include women, girls, and women with disabilities in the special seats framework.

Advocates insist that the bill is a necessary corrective measure to address systemic exclusion and ensure Nigeria’s democracy becomes truly inclusive.