Nigerian Women have intensified the call for the passage of the Reserve Seat for Women Bills House Bill HB1349 and Senate Bill SB440.
The chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and a Co- Sponsor of the Bill and the chairman of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Committee, Mrs Kafilat Ogbara at a Press Briefing in Abuja said that women’s representation in governance and decision-making processes has been alarmingly low.
“As we are all aware, despite making up half of our population, women continue to be underrepresented in legislative bodies at both the national and State levels.
The Reserve Seats for Women Bill aims to address this imbalance by ensuring that a certain percentage of seats in the legislature are reserved specifically for women”. Mrs. Ogbara said.
She also spoke on the the key Provisions of the bill.
“The Key Provisions of the Bill:
1. Reservation of Seats: The bill proposes that an additional one seat across the 36 states and FCT be reserved for women at the Senate and House of Representatives, and 3 additional seats to be reserved for women at the state Houses of assembly for ensuring their participation and representation in governance.
2. Inclusivity Measures: The bill includes provisions to encourage the participation of women from diverse backgrounds, including young women, women with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities.
3. Implementation Framework is that a clear framework will be established to facilitate the implementation of this reservation, including guidelines for nominations and elections by INEC
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: The bill outlines mechanisms for monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of these reserved seats on women’s representation and participation in governance and will be reviewed after four election cycles.
Mrs. Ogbara also highlighted the Importance of the Bill:
1. “The Reserve Seat for Women Bill is not just about numbers; it is about giving women a voice in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and communities. By increasing women’s representation, we can ensure that their perspectives, needs, and rights are adequately addressed in policy formulation and implementation.
2. This bill aligns with international commitments to gender equality, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which calls for achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
3. Economic Growth: studies have shown that when women are included in decision-making processes economic growth is accelerated and benefiting the entire nation”.
She commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, for being “the Peoples Speaker, a True gender sensitive Speaker and a He for She”.
She also applauded the Deputy Speaker Mr. Benjamin Kalu and the leadership of the House of Representatives for their commitment and support in gender mainstreaming.
She also urged the stakeholders, government officials, civil society organizations, and citizens, to support the crucial bill.
“It is time to break the barriers that have hindered women’s participation in politics and governance. We must work together to advocate for its passage and ensure it becomes Law. Together, we can create a more equitable society where women’s voices are heard and valued. This bill is not just a legislative proposal, it is a commitment to building a future where every woman has the opportunity to contribute their voice to our nation’s governance. Together let us champion this cause and pave a way for a more inclusive Nigeria that will give way to an inclusive Growth and a Developed Nation”, she said.
In her remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe pointed out that Nigeria has lost some international recognitions due to inadequate women representation.
She also said that the Bills, if passed would promote Nigeria’s image Internationally.
Mrs. Ireti also called for more support and advocacy for the bills.
Similarly, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, said that women deserve to be on all decision making tables.
She noted that the UNDP would support all activities aimed at the successful passage of the bills.
“Here in Nigeria, we know that women are already leading in communities, delivering education, advocating for healthcare, sustaining families and building peace. What they need now are clear pathways into formal political leadership.
“The Reserved Seats Bill provides that pathway.
“UNDP stands fully behind this campaign. We are committed to providing the technical support, policy advisory, and convening power required to build momentum behind the Bill. And in the weeks ahead, we will deepen our engagement, mobilizing civic education, fostering cross-party dialogue, and supporting public advocacy to ensure this Bill moves from promise to policy”. Ms. Attafuah said.
She also commended Nigeria women for their resilience saying that the bill would reposition Nigerian women.
The Special Assistant on Women Affairs to the Speaker of the House of Representatives l, Ms. Yeside Aminat Olasimbo, in her next Steps remarks, said that the Reserved Seats For Women Bill “is a well deserved bill”.
She also called for the support of the men in the passage of the bill.
In her remarks, Ms. Lois Auta, reintegrated the call for 5% of the Reserved Seats For Women to be allocated to persons with disabilities.
The slogan for the Reserved Seats For Women Bill is “LET’S RESERVE THE SEATS FOR WOMEN FOR THE TABLE TO BE STRONGER”