•Reserved seats for women get boost
Nigerian women will gain an additional 156 seats in the parliament across the states and federal levels of the reserved seats for women bill currently before the National Assembly is passed and assented to by the President.
The reserved seats for women bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 constitution to guarantee special seats for women in the National and state Assemblies, is seen by women advocates as a corrective, temporary and strategic reform bill that will redress decades of gender imbalance in political representation in the country.
Although the bill seeks to have one seat reserved for women in the House of Representatives and the Senate in each state of the federation and three for women in state Assemblies, The Nation learnt that the Senate is advocating for one reserved seat per geopolitical zone for women in the Senate.
Speaking at a training for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps organised by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs in collaboration with TOS Foundation, Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Legislative Matters, Chidozie Aja dispelled insinuations that the bill seeks to provide a platform for women to take over available seats from men.
He said, “For emphasis, these seats will not replace existing seats, but will expand representation to create room for women at the table of decision-making. It is important, also important to note that political parties will field only female candidates for these seats.
“It is meant to last for 4 election cycles of 16 years in all. It is a temporary special measure. However, adjustments being proposed so far may either completely remove the sunset clause or extend the duration. Summarily, the Bill seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, 77, 91 and 117 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; and more recently recommended alteration of Section 42.
“While this is novel in the Nigerian space, this approach has been used successfully by Rwanda, now the global leader with 61% women in Parliament. Other countries that have successfully implemented this approach, in various forms and mixes, include Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Senegal.
“It is important to note that even if additional 74 seats are granted in the Senate and House of Representatives, bringing the total number of seats to 543, it means that Nigeria will only secure 13.6% women representation in the national parliament. Not an outstanding progress, but significant.
“The evidence is clear, countries that adopt structural gender quotas tend to experience stronger representation, better governance, and improved development outcomes”.
He explained that the bill will strengthen democracy, “because democracy thrives when all voices are heard, adding that “currently, Nigerian democracy is functioning with only half of its potential. Women’s inclusion makes democracy deeper, more legitimate, and more stable.
“Multiple global studies show that when women participate, parliaments pass better health policies, more education-focused laws, stronger social protection frameworks and more community-driven development policies. Simply put, women’s presence improves the quality of governance.
“Women are critical actors in peacebuilding, especially at the grassroots. Their inclusion helps reduce conflict and improve community resilience. Gender inclusion is also an economic strategy.”
He said further that a study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that Nigeria’s GDP would increase if women were fully included in economic and political life. The Institute projects US$22.9 billion overall economic gain and 23% overall growth in GDP if Nigeria reduces gender inequality by 2025.
