Women meet in Abuja, push for special seats bill at N’Assembly

A cross-section of women leaders has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Special Seats for Women Bill, describing it as a historic opportunity to address decades of underrepresentation in Nigeria’s political system. The call was made in Abuja during the FCT Women O’Clock Post-CSW70 Leadership Meeting themed “Women Leaders Champion Post-CSW70 Agenda,” […]

A cross-section of women leaders has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Special Seats for Women Bill, describing it as a historic opportunity to address decades of underrepresentation in Nigeria’s political system.

The call was made in Abuja during the FCT Women O’Clock Post-CSW70 Leadership Meeting themed “Women Leaders Champion Post-CSW70 Agenda,” organised by the Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with support from the United Nations.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Princess Jumai Idonije, described the proposed legislation as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.

She noted that the persistent gender gap in political representation is not due to a lack of competence among women, but rather the result of longstanding structural and systemic barriers.

According to her, the Special Seats Bill offers a constitutional, time-bound mechanism to correct this imbalance by creating additional seats exclusively for women—a move she said is critical to strengthening inclusivity and deepening democracy.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, describing it as essential for inclusive governance, justice, and sustainable development.

She added that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 2026 has been declared the Year of Family and Social Development.

On legal frameworks, she stressed the need to move beyond policy domestication to full implementation, including proper gazetting and funding of laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act.

Also speaking, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, emphasised the need to strengthen access to justice for women and girls, noting that rights, justice, and action remain central to achieving gender equality.

She referenced outcomes from the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in New York in March 2026, where member states reaffirmed that access to justice for women is non-negotiable for sustainable development.

In her remarks, the Mandate Secretary of the FCTA, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, underscored the importance of measurable results, noting that rights must be upheld, justice enforced, and action sustained.

She highlighted the growing influence of women in driving social change, particularly through grassroots engagement involving wives of traditional rulers and local government leaders, which has strengthened advocacy against harmful traditional practices in the FCT.