The National Assembly on Monday pledged to consider the Special Seats Bill currently before it, following sustained advocacy by Nigerian women groups.
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi Jr., who represents Ekiti North, gave the assurance while addressing protesting women at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex.
The Special Seats Bill seeks to reserve additional seats for women in both the National and State Assemblies to guarantee minimum representation.
Rotimi said the proposed legislation was gathering momentum, adding that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu had endorsed the constitutional amendment promoting women’s inclusion.
“The low level of representation of women in the National Assembly is something that is important to both men and women.
“We have so many men and women in the assembly who believe that having 14 women out of 360 in the House of Representatives is a gross injustice, and having four women out of 109 in the Senate is a gross injustice.
“Having over 20 plus seats in some of the state houses of assembly that don’t have a single woman is a gross injustice.
“So I want you to know that we have heard you, we have listened to you, and this has been reflected in the Constitutional Amendment Bills that are currently before the National Assembly,” he said.
Earlier, one of the leaders of the protesting women, Ene Obe, who identified herself as a Nigerian citizen, said the women were at NASS to remind them of the importance of the bill.
Obe noted that democracy and fair representation go hand in hand, stressing that there would be increased economic growth when more women are included in governance.
Also, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, Chairperson, Women Political Participation Working Group, stated that the Special Seat Bill was also as important as the Electoral Act.
“We want you to consider this bill alongside the Electoral Act because it is also critical to the 2027 General Elections.
“The idea is to ensure that more women participate in the 2027 General Elections. It has to do with electoral integrity.”
