The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has urged the 10th National Assembly to pass the Women's Reserved Seats Bill before the expiration of its tenure. The proposed legislation aims to address the persistent under-representation of women in Nigeria's political leadership. Centre LSD's Founding executive director and Project director of the Women Can Lead (WCL) Project, Dr Otive Igbuzor, made the call in Abuja during a press conference.
According to Dr Igbuzor, the National Assembly has a historical responsibility to use constitutional and institutional mechanisms to remove barriers limiting women's participation in governance and decision-making. The proposed reserved or special seats arrangement could provide women with greater access to legislative positions. Deliberate interventions have been adopted in other countries to address historical inequalities in political representation.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with very low representation of women in political institutions despite women constituting about half of the country's population. The 10th National Assembly has a historical responsibility to pass the Special Seats Bill to alter this trajectory. Dr Igbuzor emphasized that passing the reserved seat bill is a responsibility that must be achieved.
Dr Igbuzor said the low number of women contesting elective positions should not be interpreted as a lack of interest or capacity among women. Rather, it is a result of historical, economic, institutional and socio-cultural barriers confronting women in politics. He cautioned against asking why women were not coming forward to contest presidential and governorship positions, as this could shift the burden of responsibility to women.
The Centre's call coincided with the launch of the Women Can Lead Project, a 24-month initiative supported by the Ford Foundation and focused on Benue State, Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory. The project aims to create stronger platforms and enabling conditions for women to participate, lead and influence decisions in governance.
Dr Igbuzor stressed that the 10th National Assembly cannot close shop without passing the reserved seat bill, adding that history will hold them in good stead if they pass it. He warned that their names will be written in ignominy if they fail to pass the bill. The Centre LSD is pushing for the bill to be passed before the expiration of the 10th National Assembly's tenure.
The Women's Reserved Seats Bill has become a fresh point of pressure on the 10th National Assembly. The bill seeks to address the persistent under-representation of women in Nigeria's political leadership. Key stakeholders are urging lawmakers to take action before the expiration of their tenure.
Key points
- Centre LSD urges 10th NASS to pass Women's Reserved Seats Bill to address under-representation of women in Nigeria's political leadership.
