Female Lawmakers Advocate for 182 Reserved Seats for Women in Nigeria’s Legislature.

Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and representative of Kosofe Federal Constituency in Lagos State, has urged national support for a bill that would create 182 new legislative seats exclusively for women across Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, she emphasized the need for improved female representation in politics, noting that the current underrepresentation of women does not align with the principles of inclusive governance.

Ogbara called on government officials, civil society groups, and the public to back the bill, which aims to eliminate long-standing barriers to women’s political involvement.

She stressed that the initiative goes beyond mere legislative reform—it’s a bold step toward strengthening democracy by ensuring that women’s voices are better represented in decision-making.

According to the bill, each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional seat in both the Senate and the House of Representatives reserved for women. It also proposes three extra seats for women in each state’s House of Assembly.

Ogbara emphasized that the bill is not just about numerical representation but about incorporating women’s perspectives, needs, and rights into national policymaking. She highlighted its alignment with global goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality.

Supporting the proposal, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT, echoed Ogbara’s sentiments. She remarked that increasing women’s participation in parliament would unlock the country’s full potential and contribute to sustainable development.

The bill also received praise from Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP’s Country Representative, who applauded the 10th National Assembly for taking this progressive step. She described the bill as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey and pointed out that women currently occupy fewer than 5% of legislative seats in the country—a statistic that highlights the urgent need for systemic change.

Nikky Onyeri, Secretary-General of the Association of Women Traditional Title Holders in Nigeria, called the bill essential and timely. She appealed to lawmakers and the executive branch to pass it, expressing hope based on President Bola Tinubu’s supportive stance on gender issues and the encouraging response from House leadership.

Overall, the bill is being championed as a transformative move toward more inclusive governance and greater female participation in shaping Nigeria’s future.