SIDEC Rallies Anambra Assembly Gender Chairperson in Push for Special Seats Bill

The Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, has called for stronger support for the proposed bill seeking to reserve legislative seats for women in Nigeria, describing it as a critical step toward inclusive governance and gender equality.

Ehiahuruike made the call while presenting an advocacy brief to Mimi Azikiwe during a stakeholder engagement under Project IMPACT – Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation.

The project is being implemented by SIDEC in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

It is currently being carried out in Anambra and Imo states with the aim of promoting inclusive electoral and governance systems where women, youths and persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in public leadership.

Ehiahuruike explained that SIDEC and its partners are undertaking a series of advocacy visits to critical stakeholders to mobilise support for the Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly.

According to her, the bill seeks to address the persistent under-representation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions.
She noted that despite women constituting nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in legislative positions remains extremely low.

At present, only four women sit in the Senate, while the House of Representatives has just 16 female lawmakers. Across the 36 State Houses of Assembly, women occupy only 55 seats.

“This clearly shows that the political system has not provided sufficient opportunities for women to participate effectively in governance,” Ehiahuruike said.

To address this imbalance, the proposed constitutional amendment seeks to introduce additional seats exclusively for women in both national and state legislatures.

Under the proposal, each state and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional Senate seat reserved for women, bringing the total to 37.

The House of Representatives would also have 37 additional seats for women, while each state House of Assembly would create three additional seats, one for each senatorial district.

In total, the proposal would introduce 108 reserved seats across Nigeria’s legislative system.

Ehiahuruike emphasized that the proposed seats are not meant to replace existing ones but to complement them.
According to her, women who contest for these seats would still be elected by voters, ensuring that democratic principles remain intact.

She further explained that countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania have successfully adopted similar models to increase women’s representation in politics, leading to more inclusive and responsive governance systems.

“The experience from other African countries shows that when women are adequately represented in decision-making institutions, governance becomes more balanced and responsive to the needs of society,” she said.

Ehiahuruike added that increasing women’s participation in legislative processes would enrich policy discussions with diverse perspectives and ensure that issues affecting women and families receive adequate attention.

She also stressed that for the bill to become law, it would require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the National Assembly as well as approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.

Ehiahuruike therefore urged Azikiwe and other stakeholders to lend their voices to the campaign, emphasizing that inclusive governance remains essential for Nigeria’s democratic growth.

“Our call is simple,” she said. “We need collective support to ensure that women are given fair representation in governance and that our democracy reflects the diversity of the Nigerian people.”

While responding to the advocacy presentation, Mimi Azikiwe commended SIDEC for its sustained efforts in promoting democratic participation and inclusive governance.

“Women are very strong and resilient beings. We are always needed during campaign, rallies, every other time but when it comes to electing women into leadership positions, all of a sudden, they give us the back seat.”

Azikiwe, the Chairperson, House Committee on Gender, acknowledged the importance of creating opportunities for women to participate more actively in political leadership and decision-making processes.

“Inclusivity is widespread. I support the reserve seat bill implicitly and in its entirety. As a woman first of all and not just that because a country that sidelines half of its population is not serious.

She noted that increasing women’s representation in governance could contribute significantly to strengthening democratic institutions and promoting social development.

“When you watch the sessions of the house in Kenya, Rwanda, they give me joy. Women bring certain nuance because of their very unique characteristics. This is not competing with men.

“Men have already been there and they are still there. They have occupied space. We are just demanding equity. We are not the weaker gender but the other gender,” she added.