The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has hailed efforts by members of the National Assembly to create 111 additional special seats for women in the political arena, saying it is a step in the right direction.

Tallen said the bill sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, which has passed first reading, will provide 37 additional seats in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women when passed into law.

In a statement, the minister noted that the bill is expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses, by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only women in the National Assembly and the states Houses of Assembly.

She said the bill provides that one additional seat from each of the three senatorial districts in the states would be exclusively for women.

“As a temporary measure to promote women’s representation, the bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure.

“As we await the final reading, we will not rest on our oars in praying for them and we will continue to pray for them,” she said.