A coalition of women-led organisations on Saturday presented a landmark Gender Bill at the Nigerian Senate Constitutional Review Committee Zonal Public Hearing in Kano, calling for the reservation of additional seats for women in legislative bodies across the country.
Dr. Mohamed Yahya, who led the coalition comprising key women-focused organisations such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Women Aid Collective (WACOL), PONGWAN, and WOWIKAN, emphasized the urgent need to correct the persistent gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The Gender Bill proposes the creation of one additional Senate seat for women in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory—totaling 37 reserved seats.
For the House of Representatives, the coalition advocates for one dedicated seat for women in every three senatorial districts, which would amount to 47 seats.
Additionally, the bill seeks to reserve three seats for women in each State House of Assembly, using each state’s senatorial zones as the framework.
“The idea is to give women a fair chance to participate in governance,” Yahya said. “Women make up between 45 to 49 percent of Nigerian voters, yet they remain grossly underrepresented in both the National Assembly and state legislatures. Democracy is a game of numbers, and this imbalance must be addressed.”
The proposal also underscores broader electoral reforms. Habiba Ahmed, Senior Programmes Officer of WRAPA, urged the federal government to not only pass the Gender Bill but ensure its full implementation.
She also called for the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), suggesting reforms in the nomination process for the INEC Chairman to promote transparency and free, fair elections.
“The passage of this bill is crucial if Nigeria is serious about ensuring women’s participation in governance,” Ahmed said. “This is not just about equity; it’s about strengthening our democracy.”
Ahmed added that the bill has received support from UN Women and a wide range of advocacy groups committed to increasing female representation in political leadership at all levels.
With Nigeria lagging behind many African countries in gender inclusion within its political system, the coalition stressed that the time to act is now. The Gender Bill, they argued, represents a bold step toward equitable representation and inclusive governance.
