A bill proposing 182 additional legislative seats exclusively for women has been presented at the National Assembly, with calls for nationwide support to address gender imbalance in Nigerian politics.
Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, said on Tuesday in Abuja that the legislation seeks to “dismantle the barriers that have historically hindered women’s participation in politics and governance.”
The proposal recommends one women-only seat per state, including the Federal Capital Territory, in both chambers of the National Assembly, alongside three additional seats for women in each state House of Assembly.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, backed the move, saying, “This bill is not just about more women in parliament, it is about unlocking the full potential of our country for faster, more sustainable development.”
UNDP Country Representative Elsie Attafuah also endorsed the bill, describing it as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution,” and noting that women currently hold less than 5% of legislative seats nationwide.
