Push for passage of Reserved Seats for Women Bill: Women’s groups protest at National Assembly
A coalition of women’s groups yesterday asked both chambers of the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats for Women Bill into law as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment.
A coalition of women’s groups yesterday asked both chambers of the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats for Women Bill into law as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment.
The groups staged a peaceful rally at the entrance of the National Assembly, calling for the passage of the Bill.
The proposed legislation is one of the 44 prioritised Constitution Alteration Bills for consideration by the National Assembly.
The Bills, currently before the Senate and the House of Representatives, seek to create additional seats in both the National and state Assemblies that will only be contested by women as part of efforts to address the perceived underrepresentation of women in the parliament.
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During the rally, an activist and former Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, praised the lawmakers for the progress of the proposed legislation.
She urged members of the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the Bill to give women the opportunity to contest for the seats to be created by the piece of legislation in next year’s general election.
“A vote for a woman is a vote for life. Women are the hope of life. And I want to urge the members of the National Assembly: we are not protesting today; we are holding a rally. We believe in non-violence. We have organised ourselves. We have not besieged the gates of the National Assembly. We are not going to the Assembly unless they invite us.
“We are calling on the members of the National Assembly to come here and address us. We are waiting for them patiently. We are quite orderly. We don’t fight to go into that complex because they have allowed us in before. We have been there on the campaign for the special seats bill,” she said.
A representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rahila Dauda, urged the National Assembly to pass the Bill to save Nigeria from poor female representation in the legislative and other arms of government.
“We are in total support of the Bill, the special seats, and we urge the National Assembly to pass this Bill. It is wrong of our view because it is a shame that a country like Nigeria, which has more than half of its population comprising women. Unfortunately, only about four or five are in the National Assembly - the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“So, the time is now. Please, the National Assembly should join us and make history by passing this Bill. Nigerian women want this Bill now,” she said.
Also, Lois Auta called for a five per cent reservation of special seats for women with disabilities and girls, as provided for in the Disability Act.
Auta said: “We are here to ask for our rights, the rights for inclusion; the rights for representation; the rights for participation in governance. In the Disability Act, five per cent is enshrined for every person with disabilities, including women and girls with disabilities.
“So, we want a five per cent reservation of special seats for women and girls with disabilities. It is time we move from exclusion to inclusion. We are saying, include us! Include us! Include us! Now!”
