Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said the constitution review committee will prioritise reforms aimed at promoting gender equity.
Gatekeepers News reports that his comments were made during an international legislative dialogue focused on women’s issues and the constitution amendment process, which was organised by the House of Representatives.
Currently, the National Assembly is engaged in amending the 1999 constitution. In a previous session, known as the 8th Assembly, several gender-related bills were rejected, including one that proposed the establishment of special seats for women in legislative chambers. However, this bill has been reintroduced in the current assembly and has successfully passed its second reading.
Abbas emphasised that empowering women is essential, describing it as not only a moral and democratic obligation but also a vital economic strategy. He highlighted that women contribute unique perspectives that significantly influence critical areas such as healthcare and economic policy. Furthermore, he pointed out that there are promising examples of gender inclusion from around the globe, particularly in Africa.
“Rwanda, with over 60 percent women representation in its parliament, has shown us that robust, intentional policies work,” Abbas said.
“South Africa, Namibia, and Senegal have all taken significant strides toward inclusivity, reshaping their political landscapes in ways Nigeria can learn from.
“These countries have demonstrated the profound impact of women’s perspectives on governance and development.
“For Nigeria, the current numbers are disheartening. Since 1999, women’s representation in our national assembly has remained disappointingly low.
“Despite notable contributions from Nigerian women across various sectors, only 20 of the 469 seats in our national assembly are occupied by women.
“This stark gap speaks not of a lack of capable women but of institutional barriers we must dismantle.
“Some view increased women’s representation as a threat to the status quo. But, ladies and gentlemen, inclusion is not displacement — it is partnership. Women’s presence complements the contributions of men, enriching the policy-making process.
“If we trust women to shape our homes, nurture our families, and educate our children, we must trust them to contribute to shaping our nation’s future.
“Furthermore, affirmative action policies to increase women’s representation are not undemocratic. On the contrary, they are deeply aligned with democratic principles.
“As lawmakers, we are responsible for advancing policies that reflect the values of fairness and equity. I am proud to state that this 10th house has prioritised inclusivity in our legislative agenda.
“I have directed the constitution review committee to focus on reforms that promote gender equity and provide additional or reserved seats for women in our legislative bodies.
“We must work towards joint ticketing in elections, reserved seats, and conferring equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women.”
Abbas asked Remi Tinubu, the first lady, to lead an advocacy campaign across the 36 states of the federation by engaging governors, state houses of assembly, and other stakeholders to support the proposed gender equity reform.
Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said women’s inclusion in politics should be seen as a direct investment in Nigeria’s future.
He said countries with higher women’s representation in governance “consistently show higher rates of progress” in health, education, and economic stability.
“Our society, therefore, stands to gain immensely from a legislature that reflects the diverse makeup of its citizenry and values contributions from all perspectives,” Kalu said.
Zissimos Vergos, deputy ambassador of the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), said prioritising women’s political participation and representation is crucial for Nigeria’s growth to fast-track the nation’s progress toward the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“The active participation of women at all levels of decision-making and politics is essential to the achievement of equality, sustainable development, peace, and democracy,” Vergos said.
“Women’s equal participation in power and decision-making roles is part of their fundamental right to participate in political life and sits at the core of gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
