Why NASS is in support of special legislative seats for women – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to institutional reforms that will strengthen women’s participation in governance. He spoke in Abuja on Saturday at the 6th edition of the TOS Foundation Symposium in Abuja, themed “Girls Today, Leaders Tomorrow: Advancing Women Representation Through Policy”. Daily Trust reports that the symposium coincided with […]

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to institutional reforms that will strengthen women’s participation in governance.

He spoke in Abuja on Saturday at the 6th edition of the TOS Foundation Symposium in Abuja, themed “Girls Today, Leaders Tomorrow: Advancing Women Representation Through Policy”.

Daily Trust reports that the symposium coincided with the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.

Akpabio, represented by the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, said gender inclusion should be viewed as an issue of justice, not charity.

“The idea of reserved seats for women in Parliament is not charity; it is justice. It is not favour; it is fairness,” he said. “Across the world, societies that have elevated women into the heart of governance have witnessed deeper stability, better legislation, and more inclusive growth.”

He noted that the 10th National Assembly, through its Constitutional Review Committee, is considering proposals to establish reserved seats for women in both chambers and in state assemblies.

“We are doing this not because women are weak, but because our democracy must be strong enough to carry everyone,” he said, adding that gender inclusion must begin from the home and extend into policy.

First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, Amb. Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, commended the TOS Foundation for its sustained advocacy for women and girls.

She called for renewed legislative and institutional efforts to address the low representation of women in public office.

“Despite the declaration at the Beijing Conference and the National Gender Policy recommending 35 percent inclusion, Nigerian women still struggle to find their pride of place in politics and governance,” she said.

Abdulrazaq highlighted that while some states have implemented the 35 percent inclusion policy, representation at the federal level remains low.

“Only four women were elected into the Senate out of 109 members, and just 16 into the House of Representatives out of 360,” she said. “This gives credence to the need for deliberate policies such as gender quotas and reserved seats.”

She also spoke about ongoing state-level initiatives by the Governors’ Spouses Forum, including the distribution of sanitary pads under the Renewed Hope Initiative and various skills acquisition programmes for girls and youths.

“When a girl is empowered, she becomes not just a leader of tomorrow, but a pillar of sustainable development today,” she added.

In her remarks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TOS Foundation, Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, urged lawmakers and policymakers to translate advocacy into legislative action that guarantees women’s representation.

“You have the pen of destiny—write equity into our constitution, write fairness into our laws,” she said. “This symposium is not an end but a catalyst. Let us leave this hall not only with speeches but with steps.”

Ogwuche emphasized that empowering girls today would shape the leadership of tomorrow, calling for collaboration among all stakeholders to sustain advocacy for women’s inclusion.

“Every girl we empower today is a leader we invest in for tomorrow,” she said.