As the National Assembly Open Week progresses, Nigerian women have renewed calls for increased participation and representation in politics.
They made the call at the “National Dialogue on the Electoral College Model for the Special Seat Bill” held in Abuja as part of activities marking the Open Week.
Declaring the event open, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Kafilat Ogbara, said women in Nigeria had been excluded from political participation for too long.
She said the Reserved Seat for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly needed to be given prompt attention.
Mrs Ogbara, however, lamented that the just-concluded primaries saw many women in the National Assembly lose their seats.
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“In our dear country Nigeria, women hold only approximately 4% in the National Assembly. The lowest in Africa. This figure reflects ongoing challenges including cultural barriers, political violence and the lack of support for female candidates.
“Even if we have forgotten the past, we can all remember the recently held primary elections across board in Nigeria. Most of the primary elections across our political parties were selections.
“And I make bold to say that despite the fact that these elections were selections, our women were not adequately selected”. Mrs Ogbara said.
Mrs Ogbara stressed the need for genuine commitment to women’s inclusion, noting that the Special Seat for Women Bill would address the underrepresentation of women in governance.
She advocated accessible platforms, including the Electoral College Model, to promote women’s participation and commended the House leadership for supporting women’s empowerment.
In her remarks, Mrs Fatima Tajudeen Abbas praised the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for promoting transparency, citizen participation, legislative reforms and inclusive governance.
She described the National Assembly Open Week as evidence of the legislature’s commitment to strengthening democracy through openness and engagement with citizens.
According to her, the proposed Special Seats Bill is a timely constitutional reform designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups in Nigeria’s political institutions.
Mrs Abbas noted that a truly representative democracy must provide opportunities for every segment of society to participate in governance.
She commended President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for promoting inclusive governance and women’s empowerment, while acknowledging HORSA’s efforts in advocating greater female representation.
The Speaker’s wife further acknowledged the efforts of the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), which she chairs, for its nationwide advocacy campaign in support of the Special Seats Bill.
