The House of Representatives has issued a warning that further postponement of the Special Seats for Women Bill could hinder efforts to strengthen inclusive governance in preparation for the 2027 general elections. The chamber also called on the Federal Government to create a comprehensive repatriation and reintegration programme for Nigerian victims of human trafficking stranded in Mali and other West African nations.
Motion on Women Representation
The warning came after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Jesse Onuakalusi during plenary. Onuakalusi, a Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo I Federal Constituency in Lagos State, stated that the proposed legislation aims to introduce constitutionally backed affirmative action by establishing additional seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly. He described this as a vital step to address the long-standing gender imbalance in Nigeria's political system.
Onuakalusi highlighted that despite constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination, women remain severely underrepresented in governance, occupying less than five per cent of elective positions nationwide. He noted that this persistent underrepresentation constitutes a fundamental democratic deficit and limits inclusivity in policy formulation. The lawmaker cited examples from Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, where quota systems and reserved seats have significantly improved women's participation in governance.
Repatriation and Reintegration Resolution
The House also adopted a motion sponsored by Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in Oyo State. The motion called for a dedicated intervention fund in the 2027 budget to support the repatriation, rehabilitation, and economic empowerment of trafficked Nigerians, particularly young women.
Akande-Sadipe decried the persistence of human trafficking from Nigeria to Mali and neighbouring countries, noting that victims are often subjected to sexual exploitation and forced labour. She pointed out that trafficking of adults has persisted for over a decade despite efforts by the Federal Government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
She added that traffickers, having become aware of the risks, have now diverted their attention to children as young as 10 years old. Most alarming, she said, is that these children are often sold to brothels or organ harvesters. She cited reports by humanitarian organisations, including the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN), which indicate that hundreds of Nigerian minors remain trapped in exploitative conditions across Mali and parts of West Africa.
Many victims, she explained, are either abducted or deceived with promises of legitimate jobs, only to be trafficked across porous borders and forced into abuse. The House acknowledged the humanitarian collaboration between NACCRAN, NAPTIP, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, and other partners, which recently led to the successful rescue and repatriation of several underage Nigerians from Mali. Many of these victims, who were internally displaced upon arrival in Nigeria, have since been reunited with their families through the efforts of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services.
Akande-Sadipe emphasised that effective repatriation and reintegration require a multi-agency approach involving medical and psychosocial support, vocational empowerment, and sustainable reintegration programmes to prevent re-trafficking. Hence, she called for an assessment of the effectiveness of ongoing repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes for rescued victims.
