• As EU underscores inclusion
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed the need for a constitutional amendment to allow equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women.

The Speaker also called for women empowerment, noting that it was a necessary, strategic move for economic growth.

He made the calls at the International Legislative Dialogue on Women and the Constitution Amendment Process in Nigeria, organised by the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution in Abuja, yesterday.

Present at the event were presiding and principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, female party and forum leaders, gender-based civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

While noting that some view increased women’s representation as a threat to the status quo, Abbas said: “Inclusion is not displacement, it is partnership.”

According to him, women’s presence complements the contributions of men and enriches policymaking process.

“If we trust women to shape our homes, nurture our families, and educate our children, we must trust them to contribute to shaping our nation’s future,” he stressed.

While pointing out that affirmative action policies to increase women’s representation were not undemocratic, the Speaker said that on the contrary, they were deeply aligned with democratic principles.

“As lawmakers, we are responsible for advancing policies that reflect the values of fairness and equity. I am proud to state that this 10th House has prioritised inclusivity in our Legislative Agenda.”

I have directed the Constitution Review Committee to focus on reforms that promote gender equity and provide additional or reserved seats for women in our legislative bodies.

“We must work towards joint ticketing in elections, reserved seats, and conferring equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women. However, reform is a collective responsibility, and we cannot simply issue communiqués or promises. We must translate today’s dialogue into real, actionable outcomes,” Abbas said.

European Union (EU) also, yesterday, threw its weights behind the clamour for increased women’s inclusion and representation in the governance of the country.

Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, who spoke at a dialogue in Abuja, organised by the 10th House of Representatives in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), underscored the importance of women’s representation in governance as both a fundamental right and a driver of inclusive growth.

EU noted that prioritising women’s political participation and representation was crucial for Nigeria’s growth, especially to fast-track the nation’s progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vergos observed that despite global progress, women remain underrepresented in government, often facing significant barriers to accessing and exercising political power.

According to him, the ongoing constitutional reform process in Nigeria presents a timely opportunity to implement an inclusive legal framework that promotes equal political participation, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or disability status.

Vergos noted that women’s political leadership was not only a matter of equity but also a foundation for sustainable development.