Constitution Amendment: Reps Mull Reserved Legislative Seats For Women
The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, says lawmakers will amend the country’s constitution to create seats for women in parliament and ensure that women are included in joint tickets for executive positions.
Nigeria has an extremely low representation of women in governance. Women make up less than 10 per cent of the federal parliament and even less in some state parliaments.
Abbas, who had expressed similar views in the past, restated his position on Monday when he spoke at the international legislative dialogue on women and constitution amendment in Nigeria. The event was held in Abuja and organised by the Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives.
He said the House, under his leadership, prioritises gender inclusivity in its legislative agenda.
“I am proud to say that this House has prioritised inclusivity in our legislative agenda. I have directed the Constitutional Review Committee to focus on reforms that promote gender equity and provide additional or reserved seats for women in our legislative bodies,” he said.
Other recommendations the Speaker wants inserted in the constitution are for top elective positions that have a joint ticket, such as president and vice president, to be represented by both genders and for foreigners married to Nigerian women to be conferred equal citizenship rights, as is already done for men.
“We must work towards joint ticketing in elections, reserved seats and conferring equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women,” he added.
Abbas noted that the House’s constitution review committee, led by Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, has engaged with the Judiciary and Conference of Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly to ensure a smooth implementation of the amendment.
“However, reform is a collective responsibility and we cannot simply issue communiques or promises. We must translate today’s dialogue into real, actionable outcomes,” he said.
“The Constitutional Review Committee has engaged with key institutions, including the Judiciary and Conference of Speakers Assemblies, and received submissions from citizens and stakeholders across the country. Now we must build on these consultations and rise with actionable models of inclusion that reflect Nigeria’s unique context.”
He assured that the House would give special recognition to young people, especially women, to participate in policy and decision-making bodies.
“Nigeria’s demographic realities make this engagement with young people an absolute imperative. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 60 per cent of our population is under 25. A statistic that calls for action to build a stronger future.
“We must empower young people, especially women, to participate in policy and decision-making. We must encourage them to represent us, shape policies, and drive our nation forward.”
The Speaker also announced plans for a town hall meeting to develop a strategic roadmap for youth inclusion and leadership mentorships.
“This commitment aligns closely with the renewed agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives. The president recognises the potential and energy of our youth, in investing in a national youth conference to create platforms for youth engagement and address their aspirations directly.
“In support of this vision, the House of Representatives will also host a youth town hall to develop a strategic roadmap for youth inclusion and leadership mentorships,” he said.
He urged appropriate authorities to ensure that women are given special recognition especially in political participation.
“Together, these initiatives reflect a shared determination to harness the capabilities of our young Nigerians, empowering them to actively shape and lead our nation’s future. Distinguished participants and invited guests, let us commit to making these events more than just another conversation. Let us ensure that today’s outcomes drive real change,” he said at the event attended by lawmakers, gender activists, CSOs, policymakers and others.
Abbas acknowledged that a constitutional amendment to include his recommendations would not be easy.
Thus, the speaker requested the support of the First Lady, Bola Tinubu, a gender advocate and former senator.
“Achieving gender equality demands our shared commitment, innovation, and decisive legislative action,” he said.
“In this regard, I make a heartfelt plea to Her Excellency, the First Lady, to lead an advocacy campaign across all 36 states by engaging state governors, state houses of assembly, and other key stakeholders (so) we can ensure that the proposed reforms are widely understood and supported at every level, securing the essential role in our state assemblies to bring these changes to life”, he added.
