No fewer than 36,000 women in Bauchi State have called on the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats Billto enhance women’s participation in governance across Nigeria.
The women, under the umbrella of the Nigeria League of Women Voters (NLWV), submitted a petition with their signatures to the House of Representatives in support of the bill.
Speaking with the Voice of the people (VOP) on Monday in Bauchi, the Chairperson of NLWV, Hajiya Zainab Mohammed, said the organisation embarked on extensive community sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness about the need for greater women inclusion in politics and decision-making.
According to her, the advocacy gained widespread support among men and youths who endorsed the demand for reserved legislative seats for women.
“We held town hall meetings to raise awareness on women’s participation in politics, and the clarion call made a significant impact,” she said.
Mohammed added that members of the League attended the National Assembly’s public hearings on the bill, during which they submitted the signatures gathered from across Bauchi State.
She noted that while many women are eager to participate in politics, financial barriers, intimidation, religion, and tradition remain major challenges.
“Intimidation and financial constraints are major obstacles for women aspiring for elective positions,” she said. “Despite these, women must stay engaged and build the courage to contest, especially at the grassroots level.”
Mohammed stressed that women constitute a larger proportion of the voting population and have been instrumental in the development of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Women appointed or elected into office empower families, support other women, and contribute meaningfully to community development,” she said.
In a related development, women activists in Jigawa and Gombe States have also intensified advocacy for enhanced women’s participation in politics to promote social and economic development.
The Chairperson of the Jigawa Women Consultative Forum, Amb. Balaraba Abdullahi, called for exclusive reservation of elective positions for women to end long-standing political marginalisation.
She stressed the need for women to unite, contest elections, and leverage their numerical strength to gain representation at all levels of government.
“Women have been left behind in politics, education, economy, and social development,” Abdullahi said. “The present generation must change that narrative.”
She identified lack of unity and internal rivalry among women as factors limiting their political progress.
“When a woman contests, her peers often conspire and vote for men instead. We must learn to support one another,” she added.
Supporting the call, Mustapha Yunusa, a Gombe-based political analyst, said the Reserved Seats Bill would address women’s underrepresentation in governance and decision-making processes.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, women still occupy less than 10 percent of seats in the National Assembly,” he said. “Nigeria must take deliberate constitutional steps to reserve seats for women, as seen in many democracies.”
Yunusa cited historical figures such as Margaret Ekpo, Gambo Sawaba, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, noting that their sacrifices and advocacy paved the way for women’s political participation in Nigeria.
He, however, lamented that the country has failed to build on their legacies.
“These women laid the foundation, but we have not built on it. Reserved seats are no longer a luxury—they are a necessity,” he said.
Yunusa further urged lawmakers to revisit the gender bills rejected in 2022, which included provisions for 35 percent affirmative action in political appointments and reserved legislative seats for women.
“The rejection of those bills was a major setback for gender equality. Without legal reforms, women will continue to be excluded,” he warned.
He called on the National Assembly to adopt institutional reforms that guarantee equal representation and ensure women’s meaningful participation in Nigeria’s governance system.
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