Kalu Mobilises Support for Reserved Seats Bill as National Assembly Plans Vote After Recess

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to vote on the Reserved Seats for Women Bill when it reconvenes from its annual recess, describing the proposed legislation as a timely response to Nigeria’s political imbalance.

Speaking at a roundtable on the bill in Abuja on Monday — an event hosted by The Osasu Show with support from the Swiss Embassy — Kalu emphasized that the bill is not based on sentiment, but on evidence-backed urgency to close Nigeria’s wide gender representation gap in governance.

“This bill is a function of our political realities,” Kalu said. “It is borne out of reason and the stubborn facts before us. Justice delayed is democracy denied.”

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker cited glaring statistics: Women make up 49.3% of Nigeria’s population, yet they hold just 3.8% of seats in the National Assembly. Of the 469 legislators, only 19 are women — 15 in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate. No state in Nigeria currently has a female governor, and only 45 out of 991 seats in State Assemblies are occupied by women.

“This is not just a gender issue; it is a governance deficit,” Kalu stated. “Inclusion is not a favour, it is a constitutional necessity.”

He urged civil society groups, religious and political leaders, influencers, the spouses of lawmakers, and prominent Nigerian women to intensify lobbying efforts to ensure the bill passes. “The language of advocacy must change. We don’t have time. There are barely 60 days left to act,” he stressed.

Kalu also pointed out that the 10th House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, has placed inclusion at the heart of its legislative priorities. He added that the Reserved Seats Bill aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes equity and justice as drivers of national progress.

“The President has already signaled a disruption of entrenched norms through his appointments and policies. This bill reflects our shared resolve, and the 10th Assembly is proud to champion it,” he said.

Kalu concluded by calling on development partners, political parties, the international community, the media, and the Nigerian public to stand behind the legislation, describing it as a decisive step toward building a fairer and more representative democracy.