By Gbenga Akingbule
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill has received a significant boost as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women leaders and groups recently held the North East sensitization campaign in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the campaign aims to raise awareness and garner support for the bill, which seeks to create special legislative seats for women at both federal and state levels.
This was disclosed by the APC National Woman leader, Dr. Mary Idele Alile during the sensitization programme held at the Multipurpose Hall of Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
According to Mrs Alile, women across Nigeria are more determined and are appealing to all stakeholders to support the passage of the reserved seats for women bill currently before the National Assembly.
“We re not asking for much. All we need is one seat per state in both the House of Representatives and the Senate . We’re optimistic that this time around, we’ll succeed in our advocacy.
“We want to be part of the decision-making on issues that concerns us, and we want to be able to leave a positive legacy for the upcoming generation. It’s high time women who constitute over 49 percent of Nigeria’s population should be adequately represented at the National Assembly,” the APC National Woman Leader said.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, described the bill as a transformative step towards rewriting Nigeria’s political participation history.
Zulum emphasized Borno State’s commitment to women’s empowerment through appointments, economic support, and improved access to girls’ education, amongst others.
“Governor Zulum had since demonstrated his unwavering support for reserved seats for women by ensuring that a councillorship seat for APC candidates is reserved for women in all the 27 Local Government Councils ahead of the Council polls,” Hon Kadafur said.
The Chief Host of the occasion and wife of the Borno State Governor, Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum urged women to continue to push until the bill becomes law.
“The reserved seats for women bill is designed to ensure that women are not only seen as supporters of leadership but leaders themselves,” Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum said.
