Concerned women groups in Lagos are seeking constitutional and legislative support for enhanced female political participation.
A coalition of women groups during the peaceful walk in Ikeja Constituency called for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill in politics.
The women were led by a woman leader in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ikeja Constituency, Mrs Bola Faola who presented a petition at the constituency office of the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Mr James Abiodun Faleke, in Lagos.
She urged members of the National Assembly to support legislation aimed at improving women’s representation in governance.
The petition, according to the group, is part of a coordinated nationwide advocacy by different women organisations across Nigeria, pressing for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill by the House of Representatives.
Speaking during the presentation, Mrs Faola said women from different groups across the country had deemed it necessary to unite in support of the proposed legislation.
She said the petition had been submitted to members of the House of Representatives across the federation as part of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in leadership and decision-making.
“We have different women groups across Nigeria and we deemed it fit to come together to present our petition concerning the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill.
“This petition is being presented across Nigeria to members of the House of Representatives because we believe it is time for women to have stronger representation in governance and lawmaking,” she said.
Mrs Faola said the bill, if passed, would provide greater opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to national development through elective positions.
According to her, the demand for special seats is not about favouritism, but about correcting long-standing imbalance in political representation.
“Women play vital roles in the family, the economy and the society, yet their representation in politics remains low.
“The Special Seats for Women Bill is a necessary step toward inclusiveness, fairness and balanced representation in our democracy,” she said.
Mrs Faola urged lawmakers to give the bill expeditious consideration, stressing that more women in legislative positions would enrich policy formulation and deepen democratic governance.
She also called on women across the country to remain united and consistent in advocating reforms that would guarantee their rightful place in leadership.
The House of Representatives on, July 9, passed for Second Reading, a Constitution Alteration Bill to provide Special Seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu and 12 other members of the House.
It proposes the creation of one additional legislative seat to be contested by women only for each State and the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate and House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to create 74 additional seats in the National Assembly, comprising 37 seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives.
It also proposes three special seats for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, amounting to 108 women-only seats nationwide.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
Written by Yemisi Dada