A coalition of gender advocates, civil society leaders, and political actors have commended the National Assembly (NASS)for supporting the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, hailing the formal backing by both the Senate and House of Representatives as a turning point in Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusive governance.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the convener of the campaign, Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, described the development as the highest level of political commitment ever witnessed in Nigeria’s long-running struggle for women’s representation in governance.
“This level of support from the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, and bipartisan leadership is historic. For the first time, both arms of the National Assembly are not only speaking in favour of women’s inclusion, they aretaking action,” Ogwuche said.
The bill, which seeks to amend Nigeria’s constitution to create 74 additional seats in the National Assembly and 108 across state Assemblies exclusively for women, is now slated for its third reading in October.
If passed, it will move to the state Assemblies and to the President’s desk before the end of the year.Ogwuche noted that since April, the campaign had garnered institutional and grassroots momentum with endorsements from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Governors’ Spouses Forum, and over 100 civil society and youth groups.
According to her, over 10 million Nigerians across the 36 states and the FCT have rallied behind the bill, making it the largest citizen-led constitutional advocacy campaign in recent memory.
“We’ve mobilised women farmers, market women, youth leaders, everyone. We’ve walked markets, held town halls, and educated thousands on what this bill means. And what we’re hearing is clear: Nigerian women are ready to lead,” said Ogwuche.
She added that the estimated 1 per cent increase to the national budget from implementing the additional seats is a small price to pay for the long-term benefits of inclusive governance.
SSA to the President on Community Engagement, Abiodun Essiet, emphasised that the bill was not about charity but about fairness and development.
Earlier, founder of the African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO), Dr Elisha Attah, praised the visible support from male legislators.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on Youth and Women Affairs, Ms Joy Akut, affirmed the support of the National Assembly, adding that for the first time, it truly showeda collective voice in support of the bill for women.
