Women Storm National Assembly, Demand Passage of Reserved Seats Bill Before 2027

By Momodu Favour

Scores of women on Monday staged a peaceful rally at the main entrance of Nigeria’s National Assembly, calling on federal lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the Women Reserved Seats Bill ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The demonstrators, drawn from civil society organisations, professional bodies and advocacy groups, described the proposed legislation as a crucial step toward correcting Nigeria’s longstanding gender imbalance in political representation.

The bill, one of 44 prioritised constitutional amendment proposals currently before the parliament, seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution to create special legislative seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

If approved by the federal legislature and ratified by at least two-thirds of state assemblies, the measure would take effect ahead of the next general elections.

Organisers of the rally emphasised that the gathering was peaceful and orderly, aimed at reinforcing advocacy rather than confronting lawmakers.

Former Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, who addressed the protesters, commended the National Assembly for progress made so far on the constitutional review process but urged legislators not to delay the bill’s final passage.

“A vote for a woman is a vote for life. Women are the hope of life,” Obi said, stressing that early passage would allow political parties and prospective female candidates adequate time to prepare for the 2027 polls.

She added that the women were prepared to engage constructively with lawmakers and were waiting to be addressed at the Assembly complex.

Also speaking at the rally, Rahila Dauda, representing the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), described Nigeria’s current level of female representation in parliament as unacceptable.

She noted that although women constitute more than half of Nigeria’s population, their presence in both chambers of the 10th National Assembly remains marginal. According to her, the time had come for lawmakers to “make history” by approving structural reforms that guarantee increased participation of women in governance.

Advocates for persons with disabilities also lent their voices to the call, demanding that any reserved seats framework incorporate provisions for women and girls with disabilities.

One speaker urged lawmakers to align the proposal with existing disability inclusion laws by ensuring a minimum five per cent allocation for persons with disabilities within the reserved structure.

Nigeria currently ranks among countries with the lowest levels of female parliamentary representation in Africa. Since the return to democracy in 1999, women’s participation in elective positions has remained limited despite repeated policy commitments to gender inclusion.

The 2023 general elections recorded a further decline in the number of women elected to federal legislative offices, sparking renewed criticism from civil society groups and international partners.

Previous constitutional amendment efforts aimed at expanding political opportunities for women were rejected in 2022, triggering nationwide protests under the banner “Women Occupy National Assembly.”

Proponents of the reserved seats model argue that it represents a temporary corrective mechanism, citing examples from African countries where constitutional or legislative quotas have significantly boosted women’s representation in parliament.

They maintain that without deliberate structural intervention, systemic financial, political and cultural barriers will continue to restrict women’s access to elective office. However, critics have questioned whether such reserved seats could conflict with principles of open electoral competition.

For the women gathered at the National Assembly gates on Monday, the message was clear: pass the bill now to ensure its implementation in 2027.

Whether lawmakers will act within that timeline remains uncertain as the constitutional amendment process enters its decisive phase.