As Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) has raised concerns over the persistent lack of gender representation in the nation’s political system, describing it as a missing ingredient for a thriving democracy.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, WIPF Chairperson, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, emphasized that the passage of the Special Seat Bill is critical to addressing Nigeria’s deep-rooted gender imbalance in governance.
“The Special Seat Bill is not just legislative reform—it is a historic opportunity to bridge the gender gap and strengthen democratic participation,” Ifendu stated. She described the bill as a bold initiative aimed at creating 74 federal and 108 state legislative seats exclusively for women, with a 16-year sunset clause for review.
Despite Nigeria’s democratic progress, Ifendu pointed out that women currently occupy only 19 of the 469 seats in the National Assembly—4 in the Senate and 15 in the House of Representatives—representing just 4.05% of total membership. “This places Nigeria far below the global average of 26.5% and ranks the country 178 out of 182 on the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s list of women in national parliaments,” she lamented.
Tracing the bill’s origins to the 9th National Assembly, she credited its introduction to Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and support from 85 lawmakers, including former Speaker Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Though the bill failed to pass in 2022, it remains a symbol of the push for gender inclusion.
The reintroduced bill, now championed by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and a bipartisan coalition, addresses previous concerns about cost. According to Ifendu, its implementation would consume less than 1% of Nigeria’s annual budget.
Ifendu argued that equitable representation should not be viewed as a financial burden but as a democratic imperative. “Passing this bill would mark a transformative shift—not just for women, but for other marginalized voices seeking a seat at the table,” she said.
WIPF also highlighted the stark statistics: only 3 women currently serve in the Senate, 14 in the House of Representatives, and 48 in all state assemblies combined. Nigeria ranks 179 out of 183 countries globally in terms of women’s legislative representation.
“The numbers are not just statistics—they are a glaring reminder of systemic exclusion,” Ifendu concluded. “It’s time to act.”
