NAWOJ Demands Urgent Passage of Women’s Special Seats Bill

By Kemi Folarin 

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Ekiti State chapter, has intensified calls for stronger female inclusion in governance, urging the National Assembly to urgently pass the proposed Special Seats Bill aimed at increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s political system.

A former Special Adviser to a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Margaret Fagboyo, made the appeal during a public lecture organised by NAWOJ in Ado Ekiti. 

Speaking on the theme, “Understanding the Special Seats Bill: Women Representation in Nigerian Politics, Current Statistics and Challenges,” she described the proposed legislation as a strategic constitutional measure to address the widening gender imbalance in governance.

Dr. Fagboyo explained that the bill seeks to create additional legislative seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, while also encouraging political parties to adopt gender-friendly policies capable of improving female participation in elective offices. 

She stressed that the proposed law would not prevent women from contesting existing positions, but would rather create more opportunities for inclusive governance.

The former aide advocated the reservation of six special seats for women and urged Nigerian women to develop leadership capacity, participate actively in politics and resist intimidation often associated with the political process. 

She identified political violence, financial constraints, cultural barriers, poor media representation and institutional discrimination as major factors limiting women’s participation in politics.

According to her, many women avoid politics because of insecurity and harassment during elections, warning that the representation gap would continue to widen if female participation remains low. 

She cited countries such as Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya as examples where affirmative action and gender quota systems have significantly improved women’s representation in governance.

In a keynote address, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, said women should not be treated as appendages to men but as equal partners in nation-building. 

He lamented the exclusion of women from political power despite their active involvement in campaigns and mobilisation, adding that the proposed Special Seats Bill would help guarantee between 40 and 60 per cent representation for women in governance.

Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Ekiti State chapter, Comrade Wumi Ademiju, alongside Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, also called for stronger female participation in governance and policy formulation.

Highlights of the event held at the Sanni Abacha Hall included awards presented to the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe III, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre and Dr. Margaret Fagboyo for their contributions to women development and advocacy against gender-based violence.