A landmark bill aimed at promoting gender equality and increasing female representation in Nigeria’s political landscape has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
News About Nigeria reports that the proposed legislation, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers, seeks to amend the constitution to create 74 additional seats exclusively reserved for women in the National Assembly.
The bill proposes to alter specific sections of the constitution to create one special seat for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This move is designed to address the significant underrepresentation in of women in the national assembly and at sub-national levels.
Leading the debate on the bill, co-sponsor Joshua Gana emphasised the need to address the profound imbalance in female representation in the country’s political sphere.
The proposed legislation also seeks to alter Section 91 of the constitution to provide for three special seats reserved exclusively for women in the houses of assembly of each state.
The bill is set to take effect after the current term of the national assembly expires and will be subject to review every 16 years.
Gana added that this move is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and empowering women to take on more leadership roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He ssaidthe passage of this bill would be a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest for gender parity and would likely inspire more women to participate in politics.
The increased representation of women in the national assembly would also bring diverse perspectives and ideas to the table, leading to more inclusive and equitable decision-making.
Overall, the proposed legislation is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive and representative political system in Nigeria, and its passage would be a significant victory for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country.
