Women groups have mounted pressure on the National Assembly for swift passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A statement released on Wednesday said the leadership of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) have sent formal letters of demands to lawmakers in all 36 states of the Federation over the bill.
The call is coming as the National Assembly resumes from recess.
The groups said they delivered the petitions directly to lawmakers, urging them to prioritize the bill.
In her remarks, President of NILOWV, Irene Awuna-Ikyegh, noted that the bill is not merely a gender issue but a national development priority that seeks to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in governance and create a more inclusive political system that reflects the diversity of the Nigerian population.
She said, “These letters are to further strengthen the support for the special seats at the grassroots with leaders at the constituencies, policy influencers, and members of the 10th assembly. This is the momentum that says Nigerian women have spoken in a unified voice for passage of the bill.”
Leaders of FIDA, NAWOJ, and NCWS also reaffirmed that the passage of the special seats bill will massively open up the space for women to participate in elections across the country.
On her part, journalist and gender advocate Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack said the coordinated mobilization shows that the time has come to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy through inclusive representation and ensure that women have a stronger voice in shaping the nation’s future.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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