On Monday, Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, joined other leaders and women’s rights groups to ask lawmakers to pass the Reserved Seats for Women Bill.
The meeting, held in Abuja, was called “A New Chapter for Nigeria: Advancing Women’s Political Representation.” Essiet asked lawmakers to treat this bill as a priority because it will help women get more chances to take part in leadership.
The bill, called House Bill 1349, suggests creating 37 new seats in the Senate, 37 in the House of Representatives, and three special seats for women in every state assembly in all 36 states. Only women will be allowed to contest these reserved seats.
This bill will be presented for a third reading in the National Assembly in October. After that, it will be sent to the state houses of assembly and then to President Tinubu for approval.
Why Women Need More Seats
Essiet explained that women have always had the skills and ability to lead, but they do not have the same access as men.
“Women have never lacked merit,” she said. “What we have lacked is access. We will still contest for general seats, but this bill gives us a fair chance. This is not about charity but fairness.”
She also stressed that women make up almost half of Nigeria’s population and must have a strong voice in decisions that shape the country’s future.
Osasu Ogwuche, who leads the Reserved Seats for Women Campaign, also spoke at the event. She made an emotional appeal to Tinubu, asking him to sign the bill once it reaches his desk.
“When this bill comes to you, please sign it, not just with ink but with vision,” she said.
Ogwuche described the bill as a plan for building a better Nigeria where both boys and girls know that leadership is for everyone.
Why the Bill Matters
Ogwuche also explained that the plan is affordable and powerful. She said it would cost only about one percent of Nigeria’s budget but would bring big changes to governance.
“If Nigeria wants to compete globally, we cannot leave half of our population behind,” she warned.
Joy Akut, the Special Assistant on Youth and Women Affairs to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also praised the bill. She mentioned that some top male politicians already support it because they believe it is long overdue.
She added, “We cannot make laws that affect half of our population without their voices. Women need to be in the room where decisions are made.”
Today, even though women make up more than half of Nigeria’s population, they hold less than six percent of elective offices. Speakers at the event agreed that this must change soon. They called on lawmakers to pass the bill and ensure fairness in politics.
Conclusion
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is an important step toward fairness in Nigeria’s politics. Tinubu’s aide, Abiodun Essiet, and other leaders believe that women deserve equal chances to lead. If passed, the bill will give women more seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies.
References and Related Articles
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