The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, and the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, have urged the 10th National Assembly to ensure the passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to create Special Reserved Seats for Women.
They described the proposed legislation as one of the most significant democratic reforms before the legislature and warned that the Assembly’s legacy would be diminished if the bill fails to scale through.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during the 2026 National Assembly Open Week at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, at a National Dialogue on the Electoral College Model for the Special Seats Bill.
Speaking at the event, Nwankwo said although the current National Assembly had recorded remarkable legislative achievements over the past three years through several bills, motions and reforms, none would match the significance of the Special Seats for Women Bill.
According to him, the bill represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy as it seeks to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in elective positions.
“This is the most important bill before this National Assembly. It is not the budget bill or the tax reform bill. The Special Seats for Women Bill is the greatest legacy this National Assembly can leave behind. If this bill does not pass, the legacy of the 10th National Assembly will be seriously questioned,” he said.
Nwankwo commended local and international partners, including the European Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), for supporting efforts aimed at increasing women’s political participation in Nigeria.
He said passage of the bill would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive democracy and align the country with global best practices on gender representation.
In her remarks, Hajiya Fatima Abbas said the National Assembly Open Week reflected the legislature’s commitment to transparency, citizen participation and inclusive governance.
She described the proposed Special Seats Bill as a timely constitutional reform designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups in governance.
“This Open Week reflects our shared belief that democracy thrives when citizens are informed, engaged and able to participate meaningfully in governance. By opening the legislature to dialogue and public engagement, the House of Representatives continues to strengthen public trust and deepen Nigeria’s democratic culture,” she said.
According to her, a truly representative democracy must provide opportunities for every segment of society to participate in governance.
“The Special Seats Bill seeks to address the persistent underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups in elective offices, ensuring that our democratic institutions better reflect the diversity of the Nigerian people. A stronger democracy is one in which every voice has a meaningful opportunity to be heard,” she added.
She called on lawmakers, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to sustain advocacy until the bill becomes law.
Hajiya Abbas also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising institutional reforms and inclusive governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda and praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for championing women’s empowerment and social inclusion through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
She further acknowledged the efforts of the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), which she chairs, for leading nationwide advocacy in support of the bill.
Earlier, women leaders, lawmakers, former public office holders and civil society organisations renewed calls for increased female representation in governance.
Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, lamented that women currently occupy only about four per cent of seats in the National Assembly, describing it as the lowest representation rate in Africa.
She said the recently concluded party primaries exposed the structural barriers confronting female politicians, with many serving women lawmakers unable to secure their parties’ tickets.
“Women in Nigeria have been sidelined for far too long. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill deserves urgent attention. Despite the fact that many of the recent primaries were largely predetermined, women were still not adequately accommodated,” she said.
Ogbara expressed optimism that the commitment repeatedly expressed by the National Assembly leadership towards gender inclusion would translate into concrete legislative action.
She explained that the Special Seats Bill seeks to create additional opportunities for women to participate in governance and urged stakeholders to consider the Electoral College Model as one of the mechanisms for implementing the reform.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh, also advocated stronger support for women in politics, saying democracies around the world continue to adopt reforms that improve representation.
She endorsed the Electoral College Model and called for sustained political education, civic engagement and greater involvement of political parties in promoting women’s participation.
Responding, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, reaffirmed the commitment of the House leadership to ensuring the passage of the bill.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, assured participants that lawmakers would continue working across party lines to ensure the legislation succeeds.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of women’s organisations, development partners, and the deputy governors of Rivers and Kaduna states.
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