Abuja: The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has renewed calls for urgent constitutional reforms to guarantee reserved seats for women in Nigeria’s national and state legislatures, declaring that women’s inclusion is not charity but justice. Speaking at the ‘She the People Dialogue’ on the Reserved Seats Bill in Abuja, organised by the Emerge Women Initiative, the Minister, represented by the All Progressives Congress National Deputy Women Leader, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu for championing inclusivity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Minister highlighted the low representation of women in politics, revealing that only 21 of the 469 lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly are women, representing barely 4.2%. In the 36 state assemblies, just 45 out of 991 seats, representing 4.5%, are held by women. Sulaiman-Ibrahim underscored that the Reserved Seats Bill has become a national imperative, stating that the proposal is not just an aspiration but a demand rooted in equity and justice. She noted the overwhelming support it has attracted across the country as a testament to Nigerians’ readiness to embrace inclusive governance.
The Minister also commended the leadership of the National Assembly for prioritising the bill, noting the support of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. She singled out Hon. Joshua Gana, sponsor of the bill, as ‘a true champion of renewed hope for Nigerian women.’
Acknowledging broad support from state governors, their spouses, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society, and the media, the Minister described the movement as unstoppable. She highlighted the transformative potential of the bill, stating that it would deepen democracy, enrich governance with inclusivity, and ensure decision-making reflects the full diversity of the nation. Internationally, the bill would position Nigeria among progressive nations that have institutionalised political representation.
The Minister linked the bill to her Ministry’s grassroots empowerment programmes under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programmes, including solar lighting for homes, palliatives, clean cooking initiatives, pad banks for girls, and the Women Agro Value Chain Expansion project. She emphasized that these programmes are tangible actions that light homes, restore dignity, and secure the future of children.
With the public hearing on the Reserved Seats Bill slated for September 22, 2025, Sulaiman-Ibrahim issued a rallying call for solidarity, urging unity and an unwavering voice for change. She charged participants with a message of resilience and hope, urging them to seize the moment with determination and unity, standing together unbowed, unafraid, and unstoppable.