The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, an amendment bill to create special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, for more inclusion of women in governance.
The amendment Bill proposed thirty seven additional seats at the Senate, fifty four seats at the House of Representatives and three seats in each of the thirty six States of the Federation.
Speaking on the bill, the Sponsor, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha expressed concern that Nigeria was identified among the wost performer in Women Representation in Parliament with only 4.4 percent representation despite their potential, capability and contribution to Nation building.
Mrs. Onyejeocha, who is the Deputy Chief Wip of the House said Nigeria will not afford to be left behind in achieving significant percent of women inclusion in line with the Nation’s gender policy.
She said “Our West African neighbour, Senegal, adopted a parity law in their Constitution in 2012. This was facilitated by then President, Abdoulaye Wade and resulted to an almost 50-50 balance between men and women in the Senegalese Parliament. Nigerian women are not even asking for 50-50 but 35% which is what is indicated in our National Gender Policy and several international Treaties that we are signatory to. The number is identified as the “critical mass/number” of women required to achieve impactful results.
I would like emphasis that women’s inclusion in politics is not just a women or human rights issue, but also an issue of reflecting our history and traditions in our governance process, and I truly believe that this Bill has potential for improving women’s political representation.”
In recent Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) ranking of women in parliaments, Nigeria ranked 179 out of 187 Countries Worldwide. Eritrea is the only African Country ranked lower than Nigeria, because there have not been national elections since its independence in 1993.
The Bill is comprised of six major clauses that seeks to alter Sections 48; 49; 71; 77; 91; and 117 as set out below-
The proposed amendments
1. Alteration of Section 48
Section 48 of the Principal Act is altered by substituting the existing section 48 with a new section “48” –
“48. Composition of the Senate
(1) The Senate shall consist of:
(a) three Senators from each State and one from the Federal Capital Territory; and
(b) an additional Senator for each State and for the Federal Capital Territory, who shall be a woman.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of this section, nothing shall prevent a woman from contesting for any of the senatorial seats referred to in subsection (1) (a).
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) (b) shall commence after the current life of the National Assembly and shall be reviewed after 16 years from its commencement notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution.”
2. Alteration of Section 49
Section 49 of the Principal Act is altered by substituting the existing section 49 with a new section “49” –
“49. Composition of the House of Representatives
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist of:
(a) three hundred and sixty members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one State; and
(b) two additional members for each State and for the Federal Capital Territory, who shall be women.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of this section, nothing shall prevent a woman from contesting for any of the seats in the constituencies referred to in subsection (1)(a).
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) (b) shall commence after the current life of the National Assembly and shall be reviewed after16 years from its commencement notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution.
3. Alteration of Section 71
Section 71 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting immediately after sub-sections (1) (a) and (b), new subsections “(2)” and “(3)” –
71. Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 72 of this Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall –
(a) Divide each State of the Federation into three Senatorial districts for purposes of elections to the Senate;
(b) Subject to the provisions of section 49 of this Constitution, divide the Federation into three hundred and sixty Federal constituencies for purposes of elections to the House of Representatives.
(2) For the purpose of section 48 of this Constitution, a State shall constitute an additional senatorial seat to be occupied by a woman.
(3) For the purpose of section 49 of this Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall divide each State of the Federation into two Federal constituencies to be occupied by women.
4. Alteration of Section 77
Section 77 of the Principal Act is altered in subsection (1) by substituting the words “every Senatorial district or Federal constituency” in lines 1 and 2 with the words “every Senatorial district, Federal constituency and the additional seats”–
“77. Direct election and franchise
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every Senatorial district, Federal constituency and the additional seats established in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Chapter shall return one member who shall be directly elected to the Senate or the House of Representatives in such manner as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”
5. Alteration of Section 91
Section 91 of the Principal Act is altered by substituting the existing section 91 with a new section “91” –
“91. Composition of the House of Assembly
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of:
(a) three or four times the number of seats, which that State has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible, nearly equal population; and
(b) one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the State referred to in section 48 (1) (a) of this Constitution, who shall be a woman.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of this section, nothing shall prevent a woman from contesting for any of the seats in the constituencies referred to in subsection (1)(a)
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) (b) shall commence after the current life of the State House of Assembly and shall be reviewed after 16 years from its commencement notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution.
Provided that a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of not less than twenty-four and not more than forty-three members.”
6. Alteration of Section 117
Section 117 of the Principal Act is altered in subsection (1) by inserting immediately after the words “every State constituency” in line 1, the words “and the additional seats”–
“117. Direct election and franchise
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every State constituency and the additional seats established in accordance with the provisions of this part of this Chapter shall return one member who shall be directly elected to a House of Assembly in such manner as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”
