Abuja, Nigeria | September 23, 2025
The campaign for greater gender balance in Nigeria’s political system gained momentum on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas declared their support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create additional seats exclusively for women in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly.
Advocates say the measure is necessary to address the country’s low level of female representation in governance, with women holding fewer than 5 percent of seats in the 10th National Assembly.
Akpabio described the bill as a crucial step toward inclusive governance, while Abbas urged stakeholders to rally behind the proposal during the ongoing constitutional review process.
Civil society groups and women’s organizations have also expressed strong support, citing the persistent underrepresentation of women in elective offices across the country.
Although the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has publicly endorsed the initiative, a direct statement from President Bola Tinubu specifically backing the bill has not yet been confirmed.
The Reserved Seats Bill remains under legislative consideration, with debates expected to continue as lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the public weigh in on its provisions.
If passed, implementation would begin after the current legislative term, with periodic reviews to assess its impact on Nigeria’s democratic process.
