Nigeria moves to address gender inequality with proposed 74 legislative seats for women

Despite facing opposition, the bill aims to amend key sections of the Nigerian Constitution to enhance female representation in both national and state assemblies.

The proposed amendments target Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the Constitution to reserve one special seat for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This change would come into effect after the current National Assembly term and is subject to review every 16 years, according to Premium Times Nigeria. Additionally, Section 91 would be amended to allocate three special seats for women in the Houses of Assembly of each state, distributed across the three senatorial districts.

Leading the debate, Joshua Gana, a member of the House of Representatives, emphasised the bill's foundation on equitable representation. "The bill is anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape and the overall development of our nation," Gana said.

He noted the importance of addressing gender inequality in Nigeria's governance, saying "the issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy."

However, the bill has its detractors. Ghali Tijani from Kano State called for its rejection, arguing that it undermines democratic principles and human rights.

"Accepting this bill is against democratic principles, and it is undermining human rights. This should be rejected. Of course, I can support women if there is a political provision for non-elective positions. If we continue on this path, we are undermining political parties," Tijani argued.

Currently, Nigeria has the least gender-representative parliament in sub-Saharan Africa, with women comprising only 2.8% of MPs in the upper chamber and 3.9% in the lower chamber following the 2023 elections.

In contrast, Zimbabwe's upper chamber boasts the highest female representation in the region at 45%. Globally, Rwanda leads with women holding 61.3% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, followed by Cuba and Nicaragua at 55.7% and 53.9%, respectively.