Reserve Seats For Women: Women Groups Storm NASS, Demand Speedy Passage

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

A coalition of Women and other Civil Society groups under the umbrella of Women Political Participation (WPP), have staged a peaceful rally at the National Assembly on Monday to push for the speedy passage of the proposed bills for the reservation of special seats for women in the National Assembly and the States Houses of Assembly.

This is coming on the heels of agitations of other groups who made the same requests for the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bills.

Speaking to journalists, the former Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, commended lawmakers over the progress of the proposed legislation.

She however called on them to fast track the passage of the proposed bills to give women the opportunity to contest for the seats to be created by the piece of the legislation in the 2027 general election.

She said, “A vote for a woman is a vote for life. Women are the hope of life. And I want to urge the members of the National Assembly, we are not protesting today, we are holding a rally. We believe in non-violence. We have organised ourselves. We have not besieged the gates of the National Assembly. We are not going to the Assembly unless they invite us.

“We are calling on the members of the National Assembly to come here and address us. We are waiting for them patiently. We are quite orderly. We don’t fight to go into that house because they have allowed us before. We have been there on the campaign for special seats bill”.

Similarly, the representative of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rahila Dauda called on the National Assembly to pass the bill in order to address the poor female representation in the legislative and other arms of government in Nigeria.

She said, “We are in total support of the bill, the special seats and we urge the National Assembly to join with us by passing this bill. It is wrong of our view because it is a shame that a country like Nigeria, which more than half of the population are women, unfortunately only about 5 or 4 are in the National Assembly and the Senate and the House of Representatives. So the time is now, please and please National Assembly join us and make history to pass this bill. Nigerian women want this bill now”.

On her part, one of the activists, Lois Auta called for 5% reservation of special seats for women with disabilities and girls a provided for in the Disability Act.

She said, “We are here to ask for our rights. Rights for inclusion. Rights for representation. Rights for participation in governance. In the Disability Act, 5% is enshrined for every person with disabilities, including women and girls with disabilities.

“So we want 5% reservation of special seats for women with disabilities and girls. It is time that we move from exclusion to inclusion. We are saying, include us! Include us! Include us! Now!”.

The Women Reserved Seats Bills is among the 44 high priority constitution alteration Bills awaiting final voting by the National Assembly.

The Bills seek to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for seat reservation for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

They seek to provide for special constituencies to be contested and filled by women as a temporary measure to promote women’s political representation.