By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) has called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Additional/Reserved Seats Bill for Women, a legislative proposal aimed at increasing female representation in Nigeria’s political institutions.
Speaking during a public hearing of the 1999 Constitutional Review Committee held in Kaduna State, Hajiya Saudatu S. Mahdi, Secretary General of WRAPA, emphasized the Bill’s importance to inclusive governance and national development.
“If passed, this Bill will position Nigeria for accelerated and inclusive development, while aligning us with other progressive nations that promote gender-balanced leadership,” she stated.
The proposed legislation seeks to create additional constituencies specifically reserved for women in both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, thereby addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political space.
WRAPA submitted a number of key recommendations regarding the Bill, including:
Establishing special constituencies for women candidates contesting the reserved seats.
Delaying implementation until the current National and State Assemblies complete their tenure.
Limiting the provision to 16 years (equivalent to four electoral cycles), after which a review will determine its continuation, adjustment, or repeal.
In addition to championing the Women’s Reserved Seats Bill, WRAPA also advocated for broader electoral reforms, particularly in the appointment process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leadership.
“We propose the adoption of an independent panel-led selection model, drawing inspiration from the 2008 Justice Uwais Committee recommendations and Kenya’s IEBC framework,” Hajiya Mahdi explained.
She argued that reforming INEC’s leadership structure would help ensure institutional neutrality, operational independence, and greater public trust in Nigeria’s electoral processes.
WRAPA concluded its submission by urging the National Assembly to give urgent legislative attention to both the Women’s Reserved Seats Bill and the constitutional amendments required to reform the country’s electoral institutions.
“We respectfully call for accelerated passage, state-level adoption, and Presidential assent to this Bill, not just as a gender priority, but as a national development imperative,” Mahdi added.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting democratic inclusion, gender equity, and electoral accountability as pillars for a stronger and more representative Nigeria.
