By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has introduced a motion calling for the urgent passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill, aimed at addressing the low representation of women in Nigeria’s political system.
The motion, sponsored by Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, highlights the need for deliberate legislative action to correct what lawmakers described as a persistent gender imbalance in governance.
Presenting the motion, Onuakalusi noted that while the Constitution guarantees freedom from discrimination and equal participation in governance, women—who make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population—remain significantly underrepresented in elective and appointive positions.
He said women’s representation in elective offices has remained below five per cent, describing the figure as one of the lowest globally.
The lawmaker explained that the proposed bill seeks to introduce affirmative action through the creation of additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as a temporary measure to boost participation.
He cited examples from countries including Kenya, South Africa, Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda, where similar policies have led to increased representation of women in governance.
The motion also recalled that previous attempts to pass similar constitutional amendments in the 9th and 10th National Assemblies failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.
Onuakalusi said Nigeria’s commitments under international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol, the ECOWAS Gender Policy, and the African Union Agenda 2063 underscore the need for affirmative action.
He warned that failure to address the imbalance could undermine democratic credibility, weaken institutions, and limit national development.
The House is urging lawmakers to give accelerated consideration to the bill and support it to secure the required legislative approval.
It also called on relevant committees to fast-track deliberations and on State Houses of Assembly to prepare for concurrence in line with constitutional requirements.
The motion further seeks the engagement of civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and the media to build public support for the bill.
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