The Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, has called for stronger support from traditional rulers and other stakeholders for the proposed constitutional amendment seeking special legislative seats for women in Nigeria.
Ehiahuruike made the appeal during an advocacy visit to the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, at his palace in Obosi.
She explained that the proposed bill aims to amend the Nigerian Constitution to reserve seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly in order to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in governance.
According to her, Nigeria currently has only four women in the Senate, 16 in the House of Representatives, and about 55 women across the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
To bridge the gap, she said the proposal seeks to create 37 additional Senate seats for women, one per state and the Federal Capital Territory, 37 seats in the House of Representatives, and three seats in each State House of Assembly, one for each senatorial district.
“In total, we are advocating 108 reserved seats for women. Apart from these seats, women will still be free to contest other elective positions alongside men,” she said.
Ehiahuruike noted that the initiative is being championed under Project IMPACT – Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation, which SIDEC is implementing in Anambra and Imo states in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
She said the project seeks to promote inclusive electoral and governance systems in which women, men, youth, and persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to hold elective public office.
The SIDEC executive director added that similar approaches have been successfully implemented in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania to improve women’s representation in governance.
She clarified that the proposed reserved seats would complement existing seats and not replace them, stressing that women would still have to contest and be elected by the electorate.
According to her, the constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.
“This is why we are seeking the support and buy-in of traditional rulers who are respected royal fathers to many lawmakers that will eventually vote on the bill,” she said.
Responding, Igwe Chidubem Iweka described the clamour for special seats for women in legislative houses as a just and progressive cause, commending SIDEC and other organisations championing the initiative, noting that women have often been underrated and underutilised due to cultural norms.
“This is a just cause because women are underrated, undermined, and underused, especially in Africa, because of our existing cultural practices. These days, when things appear to be going wrong, I believe women will do well if given the opportunity. Women are needed to help salvage the situation.”
The monarch, however, advised women seeking political positions not to neglect their families in the process. “The society is fast disintegrating, and women are the pillars of the home. I do not want them to sacrifice their homes for politics,” he said.
“I do not see anything wrong with women occupying any elective position,” he added.
