Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have expressed the need for stakeholders to drive the momentum for the passage of the Special Seats Bill.
The CSOs made the expression in Calabar on Monday at a media roundtable organised by Gender and Development Action (GADA).
Mr Macphalane Ejah, the Country Director, International Training Research and Advocacy Project (INTRAP), said that Nigeria ranked low in female representation in governance in Africa.
At the event which aimed to sustain momentum for the special seats bill, Ejah said that it was crucial to renew push for the bill in order to boost women participation in leadership
He said that Nigeria’s four per cent female representation was dangerously low, and currently placed the country at 181 position globally.
It would be recalled that the Inter-Parliamentary Union data put Rwanda at 61 per cent female representation, South Africa, 46.5 per cent, while Senegal is 41.5 per cent.
The INTRAP country director further said that the bill aimed to intentionally include more women in governance to strengthen national development and promote inclusive decision-making.
Ejah said that the proposal was seeking temporary special seats for women for 16 years to help Nigeria to move towards the 35 per cent affirmative action target.
“Stakeholders should be deliberate about building informed partnership to ensure public support ahead of the general elections.
“The 35 per cent affirmative action remains valid, but it is ineffective in practice because of systemic barriers limiting women’s political participation,” he said.
He described the special seats bill as a “win-win solution” that could increase women’s representation and lay the groundwork for long-term political equality.
Miss Nnenna Ugbor, GADA Programme Manager, said that the organisation was mobilising diverse groups, including persons with disabilities and young women to support the bill.
Ugbor said that the bill addressed the persistent under-representation of women in politics, governance and decision-making across all levels.
She said that sustained media engagement was essential to maintain the momentum that had been built through state, community, zonal and national advocacy drives.
She dismissed concerns about timing, saying that the media had been engaged from the onset and should continue to amplify the voices of women.
She said that although there were challenges in identifying women candidates, effective sensitisation would encourage more women to pursue leadership roles.
NAN reports that the special seats bill proposes 74 additional seats in the National Assembly, and three extra seats in each state assembly for women.
