WOMEN STAGE RALLY AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, DEMAND PASSAGE OF RESERVED SEATS BILL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Scores of women on Monday staged a peaceful rally at the main entrance of the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the Women Reserved Seats Bill ahead of the 2027 general election.
The proposed legislation is among 44 prioritised constitutional amendment bills awaiting final voting by the National Assembly and subsequent approval by state Houses of Assembly. If passed, it would amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies reserved exclusively for women in the National Assembly and state legislatures.
Addressing the rally, former Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, commended lawmakers for progress made so far but urged swift final passage.
“A vote for a woman is a vote for life,” she said, stressing that the rally was peaceful and aimed at constructive engagement. She noted that timely approval would give political parties and prospective female candidates adequate time to prepare for the 2027 elections.
Representing the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Rahila Dauda described Nigeria’s current level of female representation as unacceptable, noting that women occupy only a small fraction of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Another advocate called for the framework to align with the Disability Act by reserving at least five per cent of the proposed seats for women and girls with disabilities, emphasising inclusion and equal participation.
Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female parliamentary representation in Africa. Efforts to expand women’s political participation have previously failed, including the rejection of several gender-related constitutional amendments in 2022.
Proponents argue that the reserved seats model, adopted in countries such as Rwanda and Senegal, is a temporary corrective measure to address systemic barriers limiting women’s access to elective office.
For the women gathered at the National Assembly gate, the message was clear: pass the bill in time for implementation before 2027. Whether lawmakers will act remains uncertain.
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