Speaker Abbas Rallies National Support for Reserved Seats Bill for Women

Abuja, Nigeria— The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen PhD, has issued a clarion call for national consensus on the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, emphasizing the urgent need to address the persistent under representation of women in Nigeria’s legislature.

Speaking at a high-level Town Hall and Strategic Round table in Abuja, Speaker Abbas underscored that expanding women’s political participation is not an act of charity but an investment in stronger governance and more inclusive lawmaking. “Women bring critical perspectives to issues like education, healthcare, community security, and entrepreneurship. These are national priorities, not just women’s issues,” he said.

The Speaker outlined key proposals currently before the National Assembly, including HB 1189, HB 1349, HB 1421, and HB 1811. These bills propose the creation of additional legislative seats at the federal and state levels to be occupied exclusively by women. They also introduce structural measures to ensure that these seats are equitably distributed and do not diminish existing representation.

While acknowledging the ambition of the proposed legislation, Abbas cautioned against designs that could unintentionally make political participation more difficult for women. “Some proposals currently under review would require female aspirants to campaign across overly large constituencies this is a logistical and financial burden, especially for first-timers,” he stated.

He recommended more practical approaches, such as synchronizing reserved seat elections with gubernatorial or senatorial polls to reduce cost, streamline campaigns, and limit voter confusion.

As part of the implementation strategy, the Speaker announced the creation of a Joint Working and Strategy Advocacy Committee combining members of the House Committees on Women Affairs and Women in Parliament. He also proposed the establishment of Reserved Seats Desks in both legislative chambers and state assemblies to coordinate advocacy, monitor progress, and facilitate information sharing.

“Today is not just about speeches; it’s about strategy. We need to translate this bill into action, into messaging, and into mobilisation,” he added. Highlighting the bill’s built-in sunset clause, Abbas explained that the special seats would be reviewed after 16 years, reinforcing that the measure is a temporary but necessary correction to decades of imbalance.

He called on political leaders, civil society organisations, religious and traditional institutions, the media, and women’s groups to unite behind the bill. He urged fellow lawmakers to rise above partisan interests and support what he described as a national priority.

“History will judge us. Our daughters will read this debate. This is our chance to shift Nigeria from the bottom of global gender rankings to a country that truly values inclusion.”

“Let us build bridges, not barriers. Let us act not from sentiment, but from strategy. The time is now to deliver a stronger, more representative National Assembly.” he stated