With a crucial parliamentary vote looming, a powerful coalition of Nigeria's women leaders, legislators, and political stakeholders has issued a stark warning: the nation's democracy faces continued stagnation unless the constitutional provision for special seats for women is urgently approved.
A Unified Call for Action in Abuja
The urgent plea was the central theme of a high-level Roundtable on the Countdown to the Vote on the Special Seats Bill, held in the nation's capital. Participants delivered a singular, forceful message to the National Assembly: "Pass the bill now." The timing is particularly poignant, coinciding with the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs, framed the upcoming vote as a definitive test of Nigeria's commitment to equality. She characterized the country's current gender imbalance as deeply "structural and systemic." Highlighting the grim statistics, she noted that only 21 of the 469 federal lawmakers are women, with 13 states having no female legislator at all.
"This is not about competence; it is about decades of barriers," the Minister stated. "Give Nigerian women something to cheer about. Let this Bill be our collective commitment to democracy that works for everyone." She urged legislators to follow the lead of African nations like Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda, which have successfully implemented similar frameworks.
Nigeria's Stark Continental Contrast
The APC National Women Leader delivered a powerful intervention, drawing sharp comparisons with other African democracies. She revealed that while Rwanda's parliament is nearly 64% female and several nations exceed 40% representation, Nigeria languishes at the bottom with a mere 3.9% women in the House of Representatives and 2.8% in the Senate.
Describing the proposed legislation as "not radical, but corrective," she emphasized the 65-year wait for equitable representation. "We do not want to wait another year. The time to pass this bill is now," she declared, calling on all arms of society to rally behind the cause. "This is not just about numbers; it is about justice, equity, and building a democracy that reflects the Nigeria we claim to be."
A Test of National Conscience
The National Women Leaders' Forum, representing political party women leaders nationwide, labeled the impending vote a critical test of Nigeria's democratic maturity and conscience. The Forum's representative argued that women, despite driving community development and economic resilience for decades, remain sidelined in pivotal national decisions.
"The Special Seats Bill is not a favour, it is a democratic necessity," the representative asserted. "Let this moment be the one in which Nigeria chooses inclusion and strengthens its democracy." The Forum confirmed that women across all political divides are united in delivering one message to lawmakers: vote yes.
Adding her voice, former Senator Grace Bent cautioned against accepting diluted alternatives, such as proposals for one seat per geopolitical zone, which she dismissed as ineffective. "If 45 percent of Nigerian women's voices are absent in decision-making, how do we strengthen democracy?" she questioned, appealing directly to the Senate President and House Speaker.
Hon. Amina Kadi joined the calls with a poignant appeal, stating that women are asking for a fair minimum, not equal numbers. "We are appealing, on our knees, for the passage of this bill," she said. "A woman at the decision table speaks not for herself, but for the family, the children, the nation." She also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lend his full backing to the legislation.
As the final countdown to the vote begins, the refrain "Pass the Bill" echoes as a historic challenge to the 10th National Assembly. Stakeholders insist this is a rare opportunity to reshape history, restore balance, and finally build a legislature that truly reflects the people of Nigeria.
