Members of the House of Representatives have been urged to accord accelerated legislative priority to the Special Seats for Women Bill as a matter of urgent national importance.
The appeal was contained in a Motion on a Matter of Urgent Public Importance on the Urgent Need To Pass The Special Seats For Women Bill As A Critical Step Towards Inclusive Governance, Democratic Legitimacy, And National Development”, sponsored by Mr. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, at the plenary.
While reading the debate on the motion, Mr. Onuakalusi called on all Members to demonstrate patriotism and statesmanship by supporting the Bill to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority in both Chambers.
He appealed to relevant Committees on Constitutional Review, Women Affairs, and Electoral Matters to immediately harmonise and fast-track deliberations on ‘the Bill and report back within a defined legislative timeline.’
The lawmaker also urged all members to vote unequivocally in favour of the Bill at every stage of legislative consideration.
He said; “ This Motion underscores the urgent and compelling need for deliberate legislative action to correct the longstanding gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political landscape. The passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill represents a historic opportunity to strengthen democracy, deepen inclusion, and secure a more equitable future for all Nigerians.”
“Also Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the right to freedom from discrimination and affirms the right of every citizen to participate in the governance of the country.
“Women constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population and continue to make significant contributions to national development across social, economic, and political spheres,” the motion said.
It further noted with grave concern that despite their numerical strength and contributions, women remain grossly underrepresented in elective and appointive positions across all tiers of government, with representation persistently below 5% in elective offices – one of the lowest globally.
Also the motion observes that this persistent underrepresentation constitutes a fundamental democratic deficit, depriving governance structures of diversity, inclusivity, and balanced policy formulation.
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.
The motion recognises that similar models have been successfully implemented in countries such as Kenya, which reserves 24 out of 80 seats in the lower house and provides for 47 women representatives; South Africa, which achieves high representation through a party quota system; Burundi, whose Constitution mandates a minimum of 30% women’s representation; South Sudan, which uses a quota system ensuring at least 35% representation for women; and Uganda, where each district elects a woman representative—leading to significant improvements in women’s political participation and inclusive governance.
He also called on State Houses of Assembly to demonstrate equal commitment by preparing to expedite concurrence upon passage by the National Assembly, in line with constitutional requirements.
The motion further urged stakeholders to engage civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and the media to build public awareness and national consensus in support of the bill.
It affirmed that the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill is not merely a gender issue, but a constitutional, developmental, and democratic necessity essential for equitable nation-building.
The motion warned that “failure to pass the bill would perpetuate systemic exclusion and undermine Nigeria’s obligations under international and regional agreements.”
It also called for the institutionalisation of affirmative action measures as a transitional framework to address historical injustices and structural barriers faced by women in politics.
Mr. Onuakalusi further urged the Executive arm of government to publicly support and provide political backing for the bill to ensure its successful passage and implementation.
He also called for sustained legislative oversight to ensure that, upon passage, the provisions of the bill are faithfully implemented and not rendered ineffective.
The lawmaker added that the House remains committed to promoting equity, justice, and inclusive governance as foundational pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.