COALITION URGES QUICK PASSAGE OF WOMEN’S SEATS BILL
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
A coalition advocating for greater female political representation has urged urgent legislative action following the release of the 2027 General Elections timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a statement on Sunday, the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition said the announcement of the electoral calendar underscores the need for swift consideration and passage of constitutional amendments aimed at increasing women’s presence in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.
Signed by the coalition’s Communications Lead, Hammed Adejare, the statement read in part: “With the Independent National Electoral Commission officially releasing the timetable for the 2027 General Elections, the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition calls for immediate and decisive legislative action to secure inclusive political representation in Nigeria.”
The coalition added that while the timetable provides clarity for political parties, candidates, institutions, and citizens, it also highlights the limited time lawmakers have to finalise work on House Bill 1349 and Senate Bill 550.
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The proposed amendment aims to establish 182 reserved seats for women across the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly.
If passed, the coalition said the measure would significantly increase women’s representation and help Nigeria meet its international commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The coalition noted that Nigeria currently ranks among countries with the lowest levels of female parliamentary representation, with women holding less than five per cent of seats in the National Assembly. They added, “This enduring imbalance is not merely statistics; it reflects structural barriers that weaken representative governance and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.”
The group described the Reserved Seats for Women Bill as a temporary corrective measure set to operate for an initial period of sixteen years.
“The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is a time-bound corrective mechanism intended to run for sixteen years. It is designed to accelerate progress toward balanced representation while preserving the integrity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s electoral system. The Bill is measured, constitutional, and aligned with democratic best practices,” the coalition said.
The coalition also questioned whether members of the 10th National Assembly would act promptly to tackle what it called long-standing systemic barriers.
It urged National Assembly leaders to prioritise and fast-track the bills within the remaining legislative timeframe to ensure reforms are in place ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The coalition therefore calls on the National Assembly leadership to fast-track the passage of SB 550 and HB 1349 within the remaining legislative period. Nigeria must not enter the 2027 General Elections with the same structural inequities that have historically restricted women’s full and equal participation in the democratic process. The moment for reform is now. The electoral clock is ticking,” it added.
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