“It is time to break the barriers that have hindered women’s participation in politics and governance” – Hon. Kafilat Ogbara

Full Text of the Speech delivered by the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs at the Media Briefing on the ‘Reserved Seats for Women Bill

Good morning Honourable Colleagues, esteemed members of the press, distinguished guests, and fellow advocates for women’s rights.

I stand before you today as the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, a Co- Sponsor of the Bill and the chairman of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Committee to address an important piece of legislation that has significant implications for the representation of women in our political landscape—the Reserve Seats for Women Bill.

Context of the Bill:

As we are all aware that women’s representation in governance and decision-making processes has been alarmingly low. Despite making up half of our population, women continue to be underrepresented in legislative bodies at both the national and State levels. The Reserve Seats for Women Bill aims to address this imbalance by ensuring that a certain percentage of seats in the legislature are reserved specifically for women.

The Key Provisions of the Bill:

1. Reservation of Seats: The bill proposes that an additional one seat across the 36 states and FCT be reserved for women at the Senate and House of Representatives, and 3 additional seats to be reserved for women at the state Houses of assembly for ensuring their participation and representation in governance.
2. Inclusivity Measures: The bill includes provisions to encourage the participation of women from diverse backgrounds, including young women, women with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities.
3. Implementation Framework is that a clear framework will be established to facilitate the implementation of this reservation, including guidelines for nominations and elections by INEC
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: The bill outlines mechanisms for monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of these reserved seats on women’s representation and participation in governance and will be reviewed after four election cycles.

Importance of the Bill:

1. The Reserve Seat for Women Bill is not just about numbers; it is about giving women a voice in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and communities. By increasing women’s representation, we can ensure that their perspectives, needs, and rights are adequately addressed in policy formulation and implementation.
2. This bill aligns with international commitments to gender equality, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which calls for achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
3. Economic Growth: studies have shown that when women are included in decision-making processes economic growth is accelerated and benefiting the entire nation.

It will also interest you to know that I recently sponsored a Bill to increase the percentage of Women in National security and civil defence corps, Nigeria Police, Nigeria army and Nigeria airforce to at last minimum of 15 percent in enlistment, appointment and recruitment, thereby promoting gender equality and inclusivity in our Security Institutions.

I want to use this medium to thank most respectfully thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Peoples Speaker, a True He for She, a gender sensitive Speaker, Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas Ph.D , the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu and the leadership of the House of Representatives for their commitment and support in gender mainstreaming. Most importantly the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu who has lent her Voice loudly for the support of this Bill.

Today we Call all Stakeholders to Action:

I urge all stakeholders—government officials, civil society organizations, and citizens—to support this crucial bill. It is time to break the barriers that have hindered women’s participation in politics and governance. We must work together to advocate for its passage and ensure it becomes Law. Together, we can create a more equitable society where women’s voices are heard and valued.

This bill is not just a legislative proposal, it is a commitment to building a future where every woman has the opportunity to contribute their voice to our nation’s governance. Together let us champion this cause and pave a way for a more inclusive Nigeria that will give way to an inclusive growth and a developed nation.