Women Advocates Urge National Assembly to Pass Special Seats Bill for Increased Representation

A diverse group of women leaders has urged the National Assembly to swiftly enact the Special Seats for Women Bill, asserting that it presents a pivotal opportunity to address the long-standing issue of inadequate female representation in Nigeria's political landscape.

The appeal was articulated in Abuja at the FCT Women O’Clock Post-CSW70 Leadership Meeting, an event organised by the Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with support from the United Nations, under the theme “Women Leaders Champion Post-CSW70 Agenda.”

During the gathering, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, speaking through her representative Princess Jumai Idonije, characterized the proposed legislation as a landmark moment for Nigeria's democratic journey.

She observed that the persistent disparity in political representation for women is not attributable to a lack of capability, but rather stems from deeply entrenched structural and systemic obstacles.

The Minister highlighted that the Special Seats Bill provides a constitutionally sanctioned, time-limited framework to rectify this imbalance by establishing additional legislative positions exclusively for women, a measure she deemed essential for enhancing inclusivity and deepening democratic principles.

Furthermore, she reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to advancing gender equality and empowering women, emphasising its importance for inclusive governance, the pursuit of justice, and achieving sustainable development.

She noted that under the current administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” 2026 has been designated as the Year of Family and Social Development.

Regarding legal instruments, she stressed the necessity of moving beyond merely adopting policies to ensuring their full execution, including proper gazetting and financial allocation for laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act.

Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, also addressed the attendees, underscoring the critical need to improve women’s and girls’ access to justice, and affirming that rights, justice, and concerted action are fundamental to attaining gender equality.

She referred to the conclusions from the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in New York in March 2026, where member states collectively affirmed that ensuring women's access to justice is indispensable for sustainable development.

Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of the FCTA, in her address, emphasised the significance of achieving tangible results, stating that rights must be protected, justice must be served, and efforts must be sustained.

She pointed out the increasing role of women in spearheading social change, particularly through community engagement involving the wives of traditional rulers and local government officials, which has bolstered advocacy against detrimental traditional practices within the FCT.