By RITA ILIYA

The Nigerian League of Women Voters (NLWV), Niger chapter, has petitioned lawmakers to support the passage of the bill for Special Seats for Women.

They said that the bill would significantly address the low representation of women in governance in the country.

Hajiya Mariam Kolo, the state Chairperson of NLWV, made the call during the presentation of the petition to members of the National Assembly in Minna on Wednesday.

Kolo said the group had commenced moves to submit petitions to federal constituency representatives, urging them to prioritise the bill.

She explained that the League was advocating that legislators and other supportive members should use their offices to persuade colleagues to back the proposed legislation.

“We are calling on lawmakers to mobilise support and ensure the bill is passed. This will be in the best interest of women and the country at large,” she said.

Kolo also appealed for an emergency sitting of the National Assembly to fast-track deliberations and ensure timely voting on the bill.

According to her, lawmakers should vote in favour of the bill when it is presented on the floor, noting that any delay will hinder efforts to achieve inclusive governance.

“We are also urging our representatives to use their good offices to influence others and ensure the bill is not delayed but passed promptly,” she added.

The chairperson appealed to government at all levels, particularly governors supportive of women inclusion, to back the initiative and ensure its successful passage.

She emphasised that women constitute a significant voting population and should be supported to achieve fair representation in decision-making processes.

Hajiya Faruk, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the League, described the current level of women’s representation in elective offices as a “democratic deficit.”

She said the petition was addressed to federal lawmakers across constituencies, which called for immediate legislative action to create additional seats for women in the National and State Assemblies through a constitutional amendment.

She noted that although women constitute about half of Nigeria’s population and contribute significantly to national development, their representation in elective positions remains below five per cent.

“This gross underrepresentation deprives governance systems of inclusivity, diverse perspectives and equitable resource distribution,” the petition stated.

She added that the proposed bill was a pragmatic and temporary affirmative measure aimed at correcting historical imbalances and aligning Nigeria with global best practices.

She cited examples of African countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, which have adopted similar mechanisms to improve women’s political participation.

She urged lawmakers to mobilise support among their colleagues to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority needed for the bill’s passage.

She said the petition also called on legislators to vote in favour of the bill, resist attempts to delay or dilute it, and support an emergency sitting to expedite its consideration.

According to her, the demand is anchored on Nigeria’s international commitments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol.

She said the petition argued that increased female representation in governance would improve outcomes in health, education and community development, while strengthening democracy and national unity.

“We believe that a parliament reflecting the demographics of its people will be more legitimate, responsive and accountable.” (NAN)