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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Reps urge state assemblies to back special seats for women bill

From The Punch · (5h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Nigerian House of Representatives urged state assemblies to pass the Special Seats for Women Bill to increase women's political inclusion.
  • Lawmaker Jesse Onuakalusi highlighted that women, despite comprising nearly half the population, hold less than 5% of elective offices globally.
  • The bill proposes creating additional seats for women in legislative bodies as a temporary affirmative action measure to address gender imbalance.

In a significant move towards greater gender equality in politics, the Nigerian House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling on all 36 State Houses of Assembly to support and enact the Special Seats for Women Bill. This legislative push is a critical component of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, aiming to broaden political inclusion and ensure more equitable representation.

The House observes that this persistent underrepresentation constitutes a fundamental democratic deficit, depriving governance structures of diversity, inclusivity, and balanced policy formulation.

— Jesse OnuakalusiLawmaker highlighting the consequences of low women's representation in politics.

The motion, moved by Lagos State lawmaker Jesse Onuakalusi, underscored the urgent need to address the persistent gender imbalance in Nigeria's political landscape. Onuakalusi pointed out that while women constitute nearly half of Nigeria's population and play vital roles across various sectors, their representation in decision-making positions remains alarmingly low, persistently below 5% in elective offices – one of the lowest rates globally.

We are aware that the proposed Special Seats for Women Bill seeks to introduce constitutionally backed affirmative action to boost representation through the creation of additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, as a temporary corrective mechanism.

— Jesse OnuakalusiExplaining the mechanism and purpose of the Special Seats for Women Bill.

This underrepresentation is viewed as a fundamental democratic deficit, depriving governance structures of the diversity and inclusivity necessary for balanced policy formulation. The proposed bill seeks to introduce constitutionally backed affirmative action by creating additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. This is intended as a temporary corrective mechanism to boost women's participation.

Failure to take deliberate legislative action to address gender imbalance in political representation undermines Nigeria’s democratic credibility, weakens institutional legitimacy, and limits socio-economic development outcomes.

— Jesse OnuakalusiArguing for the necessity of legislative action to improve women's political representation.

Lawmakers cited examples from other African nations like Kenya, South Africa, Burundi, South Sudan, and Uganda, where similar affirmative action measures have demonstrably improved women's political engagement. The House emphasized that failure to act decisively not only undermines Nigeria's democratic credibility and institutional legitimacy but also limits socio-economic development, as increased women's participation is linked to better outcomes in healthcare, education, social welfare, and economic growth.

The House urged state legislatures to “demonstrat

— House of RepresentativesThe resolution passed by the House of Representatives calling for state assemblies' support.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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