On 8 July 2025, the second day of Open NASS Week 2025, the House of Representatives hosted a focused dialogue on the Special Seats Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s federal and state legislatures. The event, organised in partnership with PLAC, UNDP, and NALTF, brought together lawmakers, civil society leaders, representatives of international organisations, and the diplomatic community to engage in open conversation around strategies for inclusive political representation.
The interactive session was moderated by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, and formed a key part of ongoing national discourse on gender equity in governance. Participants discussed the current underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions and explored how constitutional amendments could serve as a corrective measure.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim welcomed the broad support the bill had garnered and emphasised its importance in correcting structural imbalances. She commended the leadership of Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his role in championing the bill and stressed the value of women’s inclusion as a catalyst for peace and national development.
PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, reiterated the organisation’s backing for the bill and described equitable representation as a core element of a functional democracy. He called for greater collaboration across civil society, government institutions, and political parties to ensure that gender inclusion becomes a legislative priority.
The British High Commission, represented by William Robinson, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for inclusive governance and expressed a willingness to provide technical assistance as needed. The session also received input from the European Union delegation, represented by Ruben Alba Aguilera, who acknowledged the tireless efforts of Nigerian women’s rights advocates and pledged continued support for gender-inclusive reforms.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was represented at the event by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, the Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs. She emphasised the need to recognise women’s leadership potential and stressed that representation should be grounded in merit, not tokenism. Her message urged lawmakers to approach the issue with sincerity and national interest in mind.
The event concluded with a panel session featuring prominent voices in the campaign for gender equity, including members of the House of Representatives Hon. Fatima Talba, Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake, and Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, as well as Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, National Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and Princess Edna Azura, President of the National Council of Women Societies.
The panel discussion reinforced broad stakeholder consensus on the urgency of adopting structural reforms to promote women’s inclusion in politics. PLAC described the session as a critical moment in advancing gender-responsive legislation and reaffirmed its commitment to sustained advocacy, legislative support, and civic engagement.
Some pictures from the event:
