Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, says women’s underrepresentation in Nigerian politics will soon end, citing renewed collective action and legislative reforms to promote leadership parity nationwide.
By Justina Auta
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, says women’s underrepresentation in Nigerian politics will soon end, citing renewed collective action and legislative reforms to promote leadership parity nationwide.
Abbas, represented by Kafilat Ogbara, Member of the House of Representatives for Kosofe Federal Constituency, made the remark at the ninth Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2025) on Thursday in Abuja.
The speaker said lawmakers were engaging colleagues one-on-one, both in Abuja and in their constituencies, urging them to grasp that “the time is now,” because no better moment existed to act.
He added that the proposed bill would add 37 seats for women in the National Assembly, including three per senatorial district, as a corrective measure against structural imbalance.
The speaker noted ongoing grassroots mobilisation involving party heads, traditional rulers, and community leaders, all aimed at reversing decades of gender exclusion in governance.
He hailed President Tinubu’s gender-sensitive approach, highlighting his consistent support for his wife’s political role and his Renewed Hope Agenda’s promise that no woman would be left behind.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said women’s voices remain the heartbeat of the nation, resilient, undaunted, and central to national progress.
He stated that his administration remained committed to empowering women as family protectors, innovation drivers, and key players in the one trillion-dollar economy the country was working to build under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, speaking in her capacity as Minister of Women Affairs, emphasised the importance of collective action in driving progress toward increased political representation for Nigerian women.
She noted that true gender equality could not be achieved in isolation and highlighted the current underrepresentation of women, who held less than six per cent of National Assembly seats, far below global benchmarks.
According to her, the African Union targets 50 per cent gender parity, while the global average stands at 26.5 per cent, a gap Nigeria must close through legislative reform.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the Reserved Seats Bill was not an act of charity, but one of justice and strategic necessity to ensure a more inclusive democracy and unlock women’s full potential in governance.
She explained that the bill, if passed, would align Nigeria with international best practices and significantly strengthened national development by empowering half of the population currently underrepresented.
The minister commended the 10th National Assembly for backing the bill, stating their support reflected political courage and a willingness to correct historical imbalances in Nigeria’s democratic framework.
She said their backing sent a strong message to Nigerian women that their voices mattered and to the global community that Nigeria was committed to inclusive governance and democratic progress.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that passing the bill would mark Nigeria as a continental leader in women’s political inclusion, stating that “democracy without women is incomplete.”
Former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo‑Ngcuka emphasised women’s resilience, urging them to go beyond supporting each other verbally to making financial sacrifices toward greater political participation.
Conference convener Toun Okewale‑Sonaiya described VOW2025 as a platform where women’s voices shaped Nigeria’s future, stressing the need to bridge the gender gap and deepen female political representation.
On the Reserved Seats Bill, she pressed the President and National Assembly to deliver, calling passage critical to Nigeria’s democratic integrity, gender balance, and global standing.
She urged women to advocate more strongly, stating that their support would leave a lasting legacy.
She added that, once passed, the bill would mark the current government and legislature as champions of women’s rights.
Events marking the conference included panel sessions titled “Moving the Pieces: Translating Collective Power of Grassroots Women to Leadership” and “Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill”, along with awards for women’s advancement. (NAN)