HOR To Vote On Reserved Seats For Women Bill Upon Resumption

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu says the house will vote on the Reserved Seats for Women Bill when plenary resumes in October.

Speaking at a roundtable in Abuja, Mr Kalu urged women groups, civil society, and development partners to intensify advocacy efforts for the bill, which seeks to guarantee special legislative seats for women.

“This bill is not born out of sentiments. It is born out of reason, evidence, and the stubborn facts of our current reality,” said Kalu, who sponsored the bill, Justice delayed is democracy denied.”

The event, organized by The Osasu Show with support from the Embassy of Switzerland, brought together stakeholders to push for increased female representation in governance.

Mr Kalu, who is also the Chairman Constitution review Committee cited statistics highlighting the gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political landscape, with women holding just 3.8% of seats in the House and only 4 of the 109 Senate seats.

He emphasized the urgency of advocacy before the lawmakers reconvene, urging women groups to target influential stakeholders, including religious and political leaders.

“There’s barely 60 days remaining,” he said. “Reach out to party leaders, influencers, and even the wives of parliamentarians. The advocacy language must change. Appeal to their conscience.”

He said the bill aligns with both the House’s legislative agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, calling it a “framework for equity” rather than a gesture of tokenism.

Mr Kalu appealed to political parties to prioritize women as candidates and decision-makers, to the media to shape a transformative narrative, and to civil society groups to offer mentorship and support.

“The Office of the Deputy Speaker remains open as a convening platform for gender-responsive governance,” he said.

The House, currently on its annual recess, is expected to resume in September, with voting scheduled soon after.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji