The push for greater inclusion and participation of women gained significant traction when the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from the European Union, convened an International Legislative Dialogue on Women and Constitutional Amendment in Abuja, on Monday, October 28, 2024.
The long-standing advocacy for women’s inclusion and participation in governance gained more prominence in 2021 when five gender bills did not pass in the 9th National Assembly’s Constitution review process, including the bill to create Special Seat for women in the federal and state legislatures. As the 10th National Assembly kicked off its Constitution review process at the beginning of 2024, the leadership of the House of Representatives demonstrated a commitment to address the issue of abysmal women’s political representation in Nigeria. The bill to create Special Seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly has been re-introduced in the House of Representatives by the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review and Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
The International Legislative Dialogue provided a platform for consultation and discussion of the use of Temporary Special Measures (TSM), particularly constitutional quotas to increase the number of women in elective positions.
Notable guests at the event included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and his Deputy, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu; Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania & President, Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Tulia Ackson who joined virtually and MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla from the Parliament of South Africa. Others are the First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson, Nigerian Governors Spouses Forum, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq. In their addresses, they emphasized the necessity of empowering women and advocated for the elimination of obstacles that impede women’s political progress in Nigeria.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas in his keynote address, expressed concern over the low representation of women in the National Assembly, stating, “Today marks a significant step forward in our collective commitment to inclusive governance and national advancement.” He added, “Our objective is to ensure that Nigerian women, a vital component of our nation’s social and economic structure, attain their rightful position within our governance framework. Empowering women is not only a moral and democratic obligation but also a strategic economic necessity.”
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu who chairs the Committee on Constitution Review, affirmed the commitment of the Committee to prioritise key bills before the Committee that would impact on improved women’s representation, which he described as an essential component of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
During the event, the Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, emphasised the critical role of women’s representation in governance, highlighting it as both a fundamental right and a catalyst for inclusive growth. He stated, “The active involvement of women in all levels of decision-making and politics is vital for achieving equality, sustainable development, peace, and democracy. Women’s equal participation in power and decision-making is integral to their fundamental right to engage in political life, forming the foundation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo in his goodwill message, also addressed the audience, expressing his delight that the 10th National Assembly’s serious consideration of the bill to enhance women’s inclusion and participation in Nigeria. He urged state and federal legislators to overcome cultural and religious biases to ensure the bill’s passage. Furthermore, he encouraged Nigeria to learn from the experiences of Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, and other African nations that have successfully implemented initiatives to increase women’s involvement in politics and governance.
One of the highlights of the event was the signing of a commitment by the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, women legislators, and other female politicians to advocate for constitutional amendments that would enhance women’s participation in governance in Nigeria. This occasion marks a pivotal advancement in the advocacy for the Special Seats Bill currently under review in the House of Representatives.
The event featured three panel discussion sessions, with federal and state legislators, political party representatives and civil society stakeholders as discussants. These discussions provided some insight into the necessity of empowering women politically and highlighted the urgent need to eliminate obstacles that impede women’s political progress in Nigeria. Other participants at the event were female executives from the corporate sector, female representatives from the academia, religious groups and public interest groups.
This occasion, organised with support from the European Union in Nigeria, represents a significant step forward in the advocacy for the Special Seats Bill currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.