Stand To End Rape Initiative intensifies campaign on Special Seats Bill For Women
By: Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
NGO, Stand To End Rape Initiative, have renewed their call on Nigeria Lawmakers to amend Nigeria’s Constitution, Sections 48, 49, 71, 77, and 117 to include Special Seats Bill for women participation in politics.
The call was made in Kaduna at the town hall meeting on “Amplifying women’s representation in politics with a special focus on the special seats bill“, on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, the Co-director, ‘Stand to end rape initiative’ with support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja Dr. Mercy Kwabe lamented that Nigeria is in a group of countries like Afghanistan when it comes to women representation in politics despite making up to nearly half of the country’s population.
Kwabe noted that the absence of women from decision-making spaces have hindered the country’s progress, adding that the Special Seats Bill is a critical step toward addressing the imbalance and give women a voice in shaping the nation’s future.
“For us to get gender bill passed we need equal representation. People who do not get affected by gender issues would not be able to make educative decision on how certain situations affect a certain population.
“Women also happened to be a very close half to the population of Nigeria and that’s why we are pushing for the special seats bill which is a bill that will amend the constitution for 16 years temporarily to include women in the political space.
“The hope that we have is that the dividends that we have seen in countries like Rwanda, Tanzania Kenya and other countries that have adopted similar bill will be reflected in Nigeria.
“I call on policy makers to educate themselves about the bill. The bill is very important because most countries to include female participation in governance have had to adopt this bill and support the bill even as the popular saying that when you educate a woman, you educate a nation. If you include women in processes they will obviously bring an impacts to bring to the table.“ she said.
Earlier in her remarks, the Leader, Women Mentoring and Leadership Initiative, (WAMFOI) Rt. Hon. Florence Diya Aya remarked that Nigeria’s democracy 25 years ago, has not yielded significant results in women’s participation despite sensitization from different stakeholders.
Hon. Diya avered that the figures keep dwindling as Nigeria is yet to adopt any form of gender quota, noting that the highest number of women in the National Assembly was in 2007 with 36 women out of 469.
“African countries have gone ahead to implement the special quota for women. With our big population, Nigeria is lagging behind. The “Special Seats Bill” which has become necessary was introduced in 2018 and again in 2021. Due to concerns about women quota/representation a bill was sponsored by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeaba, Speaker Gbajabiamila and 80 other legislators. This bill will require a constitutional Amendment.
“As Gender quotas aim to reverse discrimination in Law and practice and to create level playing ground for women and men in politics. The Nigerian Constitution Sections 48, 49, 71, 77 and 117 has to be amended to include “Special Seat Bill”. Building a better Nigeria for women and girls, ensuring balanced representation. The bill when passed will give us 74 seats for women in Parliament, also, in the State Assemblies.
“We the women of Nigeria feel strongly committed to the Special Seats Bill. As women who have committed time and resources in the last 25 years of our political participation, in Advocacy and Media engagements, we will work tirelessly to get this “Special Seats Bill” passed.
“We are only asking for a fair chance to make our contributions to National Development. Only the actions we take today can help in closing the gender gap. The time is now. Please and please support the passage of “Special Seats Bill.” She advocated.
