Reps Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, has said that 15 states of the federation do not have women as members of their Houses of Assembly.

Kalu, who heads the House Committee on Constitution Review, spoke at a three-day workshop on public presentation of the national women leaders? forum?s operational guidelines and the roles of political parties in the passage of seat reservation for women bills yesterday in Abuja.

The deputy speaker called for the passage of a Bill seeking to reserve special seats for women in states? parliaments and the National Assembly for justice, strategy, and national prosperity.

He described the underrepresentation as a statistical anomaly and a barrier to national progress.

Kalu explained that the measure would be temporary as it was expected to run for four terms and modeled after successful initiatives in other countries, like Rwanda and Senegal, where women representation has increased to over 40 per cent.

He said: ?Democracy thrives not merely through elections but through inclusion. When half of our population remains underrepresented in halls of power, our democracy is not just weakened; it is incomplete.

?Today, 15 states in Nigeria have zero elected women in their assemblies. At the national level, women make up a meager 3.6 per cent of the Senate and 4.7 per cent of the House of Representatives. These figures are not just statistics; they are a stain on our collective conscience and a barrier to national progress.

?The Seat Reservation for Women Bill (HB1349), which I proudly sponsor, seeks to alter this narrative. By reserving seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create a legislature that mirrors the diversity of our nation. This is not about charity; it is about justice, strategy, and national prosperity.

?As Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, I am spearheading efforts to ensure our foundational law reflects 21st-century realities. HB1349 proposes a structured temporary special measure ? reserved seats for women, reviewed after 16 years ? to accelerate gender parity.

?This is not a permanent quota but a catalytic intervention, modeled after other nations, like Rwanda and Senegal, where similar measures boosted women?s representation to over 40 per cent.

?Evidence shows that nations with balanced gender representation achieve higher GDP growth, better healthcare outcomes, and more innovative policymaking. For Nigeria, closing the gender gap could increase our GDP by 9 per cent by the end of 2025. When women lead, communities thrive.

?Democracy dies in the absence of diverse perspectives. As I have always stated: women belong in all places where decisions are made. Reserved seats ensure women?s voices shape laws on education, healthcare, and security ? issues that disproportionately affect them,? he said.

Kalu urged various women?s groups to accelerate their advocacy efforts, mobilise support from political parties, and engage state assemblies, traditional leaders, and grassroots networks to get higher representation in parliaments and other areas of critical national importance. (The Nation)