By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has called on lawmakers to support the proposed special seats bill, saying inadequate representation of women undermines inclusive democratic governance in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, made the call on Tuesday during an advocacy visit by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, to the Institute in Abuja.
Sulaiman said women constitute more than half of Nigeria’s population but remain poorly represented in the National Assembly.
He described the proposed special seats arrangement as an opportunity to address the imbalance, urging lawmakers to support measures that would increase women’s participation in legislative decision-making.
He also called for sustained advocacy to ensure that women’s political participation goes beyond voting to include elective offices and political appointments.
The NILDS Director-General reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to supporting the campaign through research and evidence-based recommendations.
In her remarks, Sallah-Njie urged Nigeria to fulfil its obligations under the Maputo Protocol, which provides for the protection and advancement of women’s rights.
She described the proposed special seats bill as an important step towards increasing women’s representation in legislative institutions.
Sallah-Njie also urged women to use their political influence to support qualified female candidates, arguing that women’s achievements in education and other fields should translate into greater leadership opportunities.
The Acting Executive Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Emanuella Azu, said Nigeria’s challenge was not the absence of laws protecting women but weak implementation and persistent cultural, social and economic barriers.
She called for the comprehensive domestication of the Maputo Protocol to strengthen the legal protection of women’s rights.
Also speaking, Dr Fortune Ihomadunye, Secretary of Parliamentary Relations and Protocol at the National Assembly, called for increased public awareness and advocacy to encourage women’s participation in politics, particularly in rural communities.
The meeting brought together representatives of the National Assembly, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss women’s political representation and the protection of their rights in Nigeria.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
