Join our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone.
Join for News Updates âś•
By Correspondent in Minna.
Women voters in Niger State, under the aegis of the Nigeria League of Women Voters, have intensified calls for gender-inclusive governance, urging the swift passage of a constitutional amendment to create special legislative seats for women at both national and state levels.
The women, drawn from diverse civil society and advocacy groups including FIDA Nigeria, FOMWAN, and other prominent women-led organisations, converged in their hundreds in Minna.
With a unified voice, they decried the persistent marginalisation of women in Nigeria’s political space, stressing that decisions affecting women and future generations cannot continue to be made without their full participation.
Leading the advocacy, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Faruk and Barrister Maryam Kolo said the mobilisation of over ten women groups reflects a growing urgency among Nigerian women to reclaim their rightful place in governance.
They anchored their demands on the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom from discrimination and affirms citizens’ rights to participate in governance.
In a petition submitted to members of the National Assembly of Nigeria from Niger State, the women called for decisive legislative action.
They urged lawmakers to rally support for the bill, push for an emergency sitting to deliberate on it, and ultimately vote in its favour when presented on the floors of both chambers.
Our correspondent reports that the petition, titled “Petition for the Passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill,” underscores the urgency of institutional reforms to correct gender imbalance in political representation.
The group lamented that despite constituting nearly half of Nigeria’s population and contributing significantly to national development, women remain grossly underrepresented in elective positions,often occupying less than five per cent across all tiers of government.
According to them, this disparity reflects a deep democratic deficit that limits inclusive policymaking and equitable resource distribution.
Hajiya Faruk emphasised that the proposed bill seeks to address systemic barriers by reserving additional seats for women, rather than displacing existing office holders.
She cited countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, where similar legislative measures have significantly boosted women’s political participation and strengthened democratic outcomes.
While reiterating that their action was not confrontational, Barrister Kolo described the move as a passionate appeal for justice and inclusion.
She noted that the bill has lingered for years, suffering repeated delays, and called on lawmakers to demonstrate political will in advancing gender equity.
For the women gathered, the moment represents not just a protest, but a defining push for a more inclusive and representative democracy in Nigeria.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
