Abuja: The House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA) has described the Special Seats Bill as a strategic measure to promote inclusive governance rather than replace men’s seats in the legislature. The President of HORSA, Dr. Fatima Tajudeen-Abbas, stated this during the association’s advocacy visit to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) to intensify the passage of the Special Seats Bill for Women.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tajudeen-Abbas noted that the proposed legislation aims to increase women’s participation in decision-making and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process through broader representation. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between HORSA and PLAC, highlighting that strategic partnerships are crucial for advancing advocacy efforts and securing the bill’s passage. The successful passage of the bill, she maintained, would require sustained advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and coordinated efforts among civil society organizations, lawmakers, and development partners.
‘PLAC is one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions promoting democratic governance, legislative strengthening, civic engagement, and inclusive representation. We commend the organization for its continued support for legislative institutions and its commitment to advancing women’s political participation through sustained advocacy for the Special Seats Bill. This bill represents more than a constitutional amendment; it is a pathway towards a more inclusive, representative, and equitable democracy where women have greater opportunities to contribute to governance and national development,’ Tajudeen-Abbas said.
The HORSA president proposed a joint high-level strategic workshop between the association and PLAC to bring together legislators, advocates, development partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen support for the bill. Mr. Clement Nwankwo, the Executive Director of PLAC, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote women’s political participation and representation. Nwankwo stated that PLAC had spent more than seven years studying successful models of women’s representation across Africa, including experiences from South Africa, Senegal, and Kenya.
Nwankwo clarified that the appropriate title of the proposed legislation is the Special Seats for Women Bill, noting that different descriptions had emerged as the bill evolved through consultations and legislative reviews. He added that the priority for stakeholders remained securing the passage of the bill, after which its final title and provisions would be reflected in law.
Mrs. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, mentioned that misconceptions surrounding the bill remained one of the major obstacles to its acceptance. Akande-Sadipe argued that many male lawmakers viewed the proposal as a challenge to existing political structures rather than an effort to broaden representation. According to her, the bill is not intended to displace male lawmakers or create competition between men and women but to provide additional opportunities for qualified women to contribute to national development.
She emphasized the need for advocates to fully understand and communicate the objectives of the bill, particularly its benefits for national development and inclusive governance. Akande-Sadipe suggested that women seeking the reserved seats should emerge through transparent and competitive electoral processes to ensure credibility and public confidence. She urged supporters of the bill to focus on demonstrating the value women bring to leadership rather than presenting the issue as a contest between men and women.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara, appealed to spouses of lawmakers to continue supporting efforts to secure the passage of the bill. Ogbara described the spouses as critical stakeholders with significant influence and urged them to sustain engagement with their partners in support of women’s inclusion in governance. The stakeholders unanimously called for sustained advocacy and collaboration to secure the passage of the Special Seats Bill, describing it as a critical step towards achieving gender-inclusive governance in Nigeria.