UN Women, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has intensified efforts to secure the passage of the Special Seats Bill aimed at increasing women’s representation in political leadership across Nigeria.
At a strategy convening held Wednesday in Abuja, Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized that the bill is designed to correct the under-representation of women in governance. If passed, it would reserve special seats for women in national and state legislatures, creating a pathway for more inclusive leadership.
Eyong explained that the bill proposes amendments to sections 48, 49, and 91 of the 1999 Constitution, introducing 74 reserved seats in the National Assembly and 108 in state Houses of Assembly — a total of 182 seats. These reserved seats would be contested exclusively by women and would not displace existing male-held constituencies.
Currently, women occupy only 3% of seats in the Senate and 3.9% in the House of Representatives. Eyong noted that UN Women has forged strategic partnerships nationwide to build support for the bill. Advocacy campaigns are running weekly on 15 radio stations and two television channels, alongside newspaper and social media outreach. Additionally, UN Women plans to support 120 town halls across 24 states, allowing citizens to engage with the bill and submit memoranda to the National Assembly’s constitutional reform committee. Over 500,000 endorsements are expected from these engagements.
This advocacy drive is supported by the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom, whom Eyong commended for their unwavering backing.
In her remarks, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, Chair of the Women Political Participation Partners Working Group, reiterated that the bill seeks a temporary affirmative action to fast-track women’s political participation. The reserved seats would be time-bound and subject to review by the National Assembly.
She stressed that the coming months, from May to August 2025, will be crucial for the campaign. “We must engage our representatives, mobilise citizens, raise awareness, and ensure women — including young women and women with disabilities — are not just participants but leaders in shaping the future of our democracy,” Ifendu said.
The stakeholders agreed to refine strategies for both national and grassroots advocacy to build widespread support across the National Assembly and at least 24 state assemblies.
