The Resident Representative of UNDP in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah says UNDP and the UN family stand fully behind the Reserved Seats Bill campaign .
Addressing a Media briefing on the Reserved Seats For Women Bill in Abuja, Attafuah said it “is not just a legislative proposal”but “a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey” that would dismantle socio-economic and cultural barriers transcending chauvinism and enable ” us do right things, and do things right.”
“Despite making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, women currently occupy fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly. This isn’t just a gap. It is a call to action.A call to dismantle structural barriers, disrupt the status quo, and build a more inclusive and just governance system,” she noted.
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP and the United Nations family in Nigeria, she commended the bold and progressive leadership of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the10th National Assembly for championing the bill.
“… a few days ago I was with the Honourable Speaker, Right Honourable Speaker, and I could feel the passion and the desire to see this bill through,” she said.
Alluding to the victory of the Super Falcons’ 2024 WAFCON victory, she noted that the place of women in Leadership transcend the pitch, communities, and the highest halls of governance.
“We are proudly reminded that the brilliance, resilience, and their triumph is not only a source of national pride, but a symbolic call to action as we pursue the critical agenda of full and equal representation for women,” she asserted
Attafuah reaffirmed the commitment of the the United Nations family to partner with the National Assembly, through the Parliamentary Development Programme, to strengthen institutional capacity, deepen democratic practice, and ensure inclusive governance.
“We are committed to providing the necessary technical support, policy advisory, and convening power required to build momentum behind the bill, and in the weeks ahead, we will deepen our engagement, mobilising civic education, fostering cross-party dialogue, and supporting public advocacy to ensure this bill moves from promise to policy,” she stated.
Advance Gender Equality
She further appealed for the advancement of gender equality, not as a side agenda, but as the driver of sustainable development and democratic resilience, adding that when women are equitably represented, “policy outcomes improve, trust in institutions grow, and government becomes more responsive to the needs of all citizens.”
“The reserve seat bill, in our opinion, is a transformative response to that call. A call to deal with dismantling structural barriers, disrupting the status quo. It affirms the principle that women belong at the table, not as guests, but as decision makers. Not as exceptions, but as equals.” Attafuah affirmed.
In an exclusive interview with Voice of Nigeria, Attafuah said “we’re just calling for all to rally around the reserve seats for women. We believe that the future of development would depend on how active women are in the policymaking processes and governance of this country, and so this a historic time and we must all mobilise to support the women to get the reserved seats.”
Reserved Seats In Practice
Attafuah referenced Rwanda, Uganda and Nepal, as countries that demonstrated the power of reserve seats in fast-tracking women’s political empowerment and shaping more inclusive societies saying;
“I was a representative in Uganda before coming here. The country has 146 reserve seats for women, with a population of about 45 million people.
“We have seen this in Rwanda. Twenty-four women in the legislative chambers are there because of the reserve seats.
“So for us here in Nigeria, the reserve seats bill provides a pathway . In our country, 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 of political leadership.”
Citing the bill as an investment that will redefine leadership in Nigeria by unlocking the full potential of its women, she emphasised “for Nigeria to truly become the anchor of Africa, we must make history together, For women, for men, for democracy, for Nigeria because we dey carry first.”
The Reserved Seats Bill
The reserved seats for women bill aims to ensure that a certain percentage of seats in the legislature are reserved specifically for women.
This bill proposes that an additional one seat across 36 states and the FCT be reserved for women at the Senate and the House of Representatives, and three additional seats be reserved for women at the State Houses of Assembly, one per senatorial district, to ensure inclusive participation and representation in governance.
The provisions of the bill cover young women, women with disabilities, marginalised communities, professionals and women in business.
Implementation
A clear implementation framework expected to be established to facilitate the implementation of this reservation, includes the guidelines for nomination and election by the Independent National ElectoralCommission(INEC).
The bill also applies mechanisms for monitoring progress, and evaluating the impacts of the Reserved seats for Women’s representation and representation in governance, that will be reviewed after every four election cycles spanning 16 years.