Constitution Review: Group pushes for additional legislative seats for women

By Abdullahi Alhassan | Kaduna

The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) has renewed its call for the urgent passage of the Additional/Reserved Seats Bill for Women, describing it as a necessary step toward inclusive governance and accelerated national development.

Speaking at the public hearing of the 1999 Constitutional Review Committee held in Kaduna State, WRAPA underscored the importance of ensuring gender-balanced representation in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.

The organisation advocated for the allocation of additional seats in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, exclusively reserved for women.

According to WRAPA, such a measure would bring Nigeria closer to global standards on inclusive governance, while creating more space for women to participate actively in legislative decision-making.

The group emphasised that the bill is not merely a gender parity initiative but a strategic policy move to foster equitable development across all sectors.

The women’s advocacy group proposed key features for the implementation of the bill, including the creation of a special constituency structure that would enable women to contest for the reserved seats.

It also recommended that the provision be limited to a 16-year period, covering four general election cycles, after which a review should determine whether it should be maintained, modified or phased out.

Beyond gender representation, WRAPA also highlighted the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework by reforming the process through which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leadership is appointed.

The organisation suggested the adoption of an independent panel-based selection process, drawing inspiration from the 2008 Justice Uwais Committee report and similar models implemented in other democratic systems, such as Kenya’s IEBC.

WRAPA believes that such electoral reforms would enhance the neutrality and credibility of the electoral body, improve public trust, and align Nigeria’s democratic processes with global best practices.

The organisation has called on the National Assembly to prioritise the passage of the Additional Seats Bill and adopt the recommended electoral reforms as part of its broader constitutional review.

It further appealed to state assemblies and the Presidency to support the legislation, describing it as vital to Nigeria’s long-term political stability and inclusive development.