The House of Representatives has called for the accelerated passage of a proposed law that would create special legislative seats for women in both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, in a renewed push for gender balance in governance.
The resolution was adopted on Thursday following a motion of urgent national importance moved by lawmaker Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi. He urged fellow legislators to prioritise the bill and secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority needed for its passage.
To ensure swift progress, the House mandated its Committees on Constitutional Review, Women Affairs, and Electoral Matters to harmonise and expedite work on the proposal, with a directive to report back within a specified timeframe. Lawmakers were also encouraged to support the bill throughout all legislative stages.
The House further appealed to state assemblies to be ready for immediate concurrence once the bill clears the National Assembly, as required under constitutional amendment procedures.
In a bid to build nationwide support, lawmakers pledged to collaborate with civil society groups, traditional leaders, and the media to raise awareness and foster consensus around the legislation.
Debating the motion, Onuakalusi stressed that the bill goes beyond gender advocacy, describing it as a constitutional and developmental necessity. He warned that failure to pass the legislation would perpetuate systemic exclusion and weaken Nigeria’s commitments to international agreements on gender equality.
The House also advocated for institutionalising affirmative action as a temporary strategy to overcome longstanding structural barriers limiting women’s political participation. It called on the executive arm to provide strong political backing for the initiative and pledged continued oversight to ensure effective implementation if passed.
Highlighting the urgency, Onuakalusi noted that despite women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in elective offices remains below five per cent—one of the lowest rates globally.
He explained that the proposed bill would introduce constitutionally backed affirmative action by creating additional seats exclusively for women as a corrective, time-bound measure.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, he pointed to models such as reserved seats and quota systems that have significantly improved women’s participation in governance across Africa.
He also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international frameworks promoting gender equality, arguing that greater inclusion of women in politics would enhance policymaking, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve outcomes in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and economic development.
According to him, addressing gender imbalance in political representation is essential not only for fairness but also for sustainable national growth and cohesion.
