Civil society group, Inclusive Access Development (IAD), is intensifying its advocacy efforts to mobilise stakeholders in support of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill 2025, which is currently progressing through Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Women make up approximately half of Nigeria’s population, yet remain significantly under-represented in governance and decision-making roles.
In response to this persistent disparity, IAD is ramping up its campaign to institutionalise reserved seats for women across all levels of government.
During a recent advocacy workshop in Gombe, IAD’s Executive Director, Sadiq Yahaya, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the bill.
“We will not relent until this bill is passed, signed into law, and domesticated to amplify the voice of Nigerian women, just as it has been effectively implemented in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania,” he said.
Yahaya confirmed that the bill has already passed its first and second readings in the National Assembly.
However, he emphasised the need to maintain momentum through ongoing media campaigns and direct engagement with key stakeholders.
Yahaya also highlighted the particular challenges in Northern Nigeria, where conservative cultural and religious norms continue to pose significant barriers.
“There must be intentional efforts to break these barriers. Reserved seats must be implemented nationwide so that women from all regions, including the North, feel empowered to contest and participate in governance,” Yahaya said.
Mrs Zainab Abdulfatah, a gender inclusion advocate and workshop facilitator, lamented the continued under-representation of women in both national and state legislatures, describing it as a major shortcoming in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“This bill is crucial for democratic inclusiveness and representation. We must start seeing women as capable drivers of inclusive development. Every stakeholder, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women’s groups, civil society organisations, youth groups, has a role to play in advocating and sensitising communities on the bill’s importance,” Mrs Abdulfatah said.
She urged participants not to focus solely on the barriers but to concentrate on practical solutions to dismantle the existing biases.
“There are many hindrances, but let’s focus on how to break the bias,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Khalid Ahmed Kumo, legislative assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, educated participants on the legislative process, particularly the current constitutional amendment proceedings. He expressed optimism about the bill’s chances, citing the speaker’s strong support and growing backing from other lawmakers.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1383) proposes a constitutional amendment to create designated seats for women at the federal and state levels. The bill outlines the creation of:
- 37 additional seats in the Senate,
- 37 additional seats in the House of Representatives,
- 3 additional seats per State House of Assembly (totalling 108 across Nigeria’s 36 states).
These seats would be filled through direct elections, allowing women to compete exclusively among themselves, without displacing existing male-held positions.
Participants at the workshop widely commended IAD’s efforts and pledged their support for the successful passage and implementation of the bill.