It’s the season for the “Special” or Reserved Seats Bill.
As part of the commitment made by the Joint Session at the National Assembly that happened on Democracy Day – June 12, 2025- one outcome from the assembly is the hopeful passage of the special seats bill for women to have leadership positions in the upper and lower houses , two (2) per States totalling seventy-four (74) seats to make available for women to run for. The bill is expected to be passed by December 2025.
An excerpt from the memorandum states that
“This Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for seat reservation for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. It seeks to remedy the low representation ofwomen in Legislative Houses by providing for special constituencies to be contested and filled by women as a temporary measure to promote women’s political representation. The provision is subjected to a review after four general election cycles of sixteen years for the purpose of either retaining, increasing, or abolishing the temporary measure.”
While there are methods to explore in achieving an increased representation of women such as the Quota System which requires political parties, through law, to commit to more women either electorally or constitutionally such as the 35% affirmative action; Party Quotas, which are done within a political party; The Reserved Seat which comes through the legislative arm to increase women in parliament; Nigeria has galvanised much needed movement to support the passage of the Special Seats.
Prior Intervention for Women in Leadership Roles
Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and 85 other members, including the former Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, first introduced the bill in the 9th National Assembly. It was one of what was known as the five “gender bills” on constitution alteration that had sought to address women issues in the fifth constitution alteration exercise of the 9th Assembly. Despite lobbying and interventions by CSOs, WROs, International Community and the wife of the previous president, Mrs. Buhari, showing solidarity in chambers, it failed the voting in March 2022.
The bill proposed 111 seats at the federal legislature- three (3) special seats for women in each State and one in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate and House of Representatives. The difference in the declined bill and the current bill (HB 1349) is the number of special seats now in view- reducing this from 111 to 74. Nonetheless, 41 countries have either introduced or implemented the use of reserved seats to elevate and increase the visibility and positioning of women in positions of authority. As at April 1st, 2023, countries such as Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda and Namibia have recorded a high representation of women through the system. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) 2025 has ranked Egypt as the highest in recording women in positions of leadership.
Current Situation
According to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), Africa is halfway towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 5 at a status of 50%. The SDG 5.5 looks at ensuring equal leadership opportunities at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life which includes promoting women’s representation in leadership roles. Nigeria has a trend of increasing improvement in the last decade of the IIAG index however, the demonstration of this trend is yet to be observed in real time. One of the criticism plaguing this bill is in response to concerns raised about having a bloated legislature- it will cost more tax payers! It also has a provision mandating its review and possible termination after 16 years.
Who benefits from special seats?
As we unpack and follow the proceedings to the legislative adoption of this bill, there is an expectation to ensure that the position is occupied by competent women with capacity and intelligence, and that the “dividends” from this bill is also realised. Beyond the passage of this historic bill, the women who get into this positions of leadership would be tasked to demonstrate representing women.
In visibilizing the number of women in leading roles, women must also remain engaged to ensure the representation of women and the importance of raising girls and young women to occupy positions of responsibility. Role Models in our spaces should be based on competency, capacity and the mindset that raises and positions more young women to take on decision making roles.
Looking out for “Lacunas”
The Seventy- Four (74) seats are a great intervention to reduce the hegemony and to re-positioning women in leadership as well as generating the much needed attention for a group that understands women’s issues to be literally visible in decision making spaces. While I support the Reserved Seats Bill- I also suggest that we ought to keep on interrogating the intersections of root causes that promotes binary leadership, disavowing women in our Nation. The representation of women in parliament should be inclusive – a case for women with disability in leadership is a core exclusion that requires real time intervention; I believe women with disabilities are women deserving of the reserved seats and also believe that every woman should be mainstreamed into positions of leadership. The critiques from a survey conducted by Women Radio WFM 91.7 and Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation across the 36 States including the FCT, showed that grassroots women are essential stakeholders in women voting patterns with 42% out of 3,743 participants concerned about the “inexperience” of women on the ballot. According to academic scholars and researchers, women should be elected that will do the representation of women to curb the notion that not all women represent women. This findings should evolve when we elect “The 74”. While legislation and constitutional amendments appear mandatory, I urge that the special seats must be intelligible, a free and fair contest devoid of nepotism, classism, ageism, religion, ability and favouritism.
Beyond the bill, I would strongly encourage women who currently have leadership roles in spaces external to legislation, to actively, deliberately and intentionally, position young women with capacity and competence to show their commitment to not only the special seats bill but also to the 35% affirmative action.
What is your commitment?
As the adage states “charity begins at home”, it would be a good time for women who are leading in spaces to do a reflection and self-check on the number of women -young or not- who are raised and elevated to take on decision making roles and higher sense of responsibilities. Women who can be accountable to position others to carry on the “representation” legacy, will shift the dynamics of women visibility in my opinion. The question is, are we ready for this shift?
As I reflect on the story titled Ahebi Ugbabe – The Female King of Colonial Nigeria– an ethnographical research by Nwando Achebe, it is worthy to note that women have been historically able to lead. One of many observations seen on King Ahebi – the only female warrant officer who became King- were qualities such as loyalty, sensibility and intelligence. These qualities were ranked as “far exceeding” than those seen on the British-appointed indigenous male functionaries.
“Women have to make sure we are role models who can “pass on the baton” of leadership. The sky is big enough for all of us.” – Añuli Aniebo
And now to you, what do you expect or don’t expect from this Reserved Seats Bill? What are your concerns? Think about it and share with me. It concerns you and I.
Añuli Aniebo
References
Achebe Nwando 2011. The Female King of Colonial Nigeria
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2024
Krook, Mona Lena 2013. Electoral Gender Quotas
Mo Ibrahim Foundation https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/sites/default/files/2025-03/index-insight-womens-equality-in-africa.pdf
Voice of Women Foundation 2025. Decoding Grassroots Women Voting Patterns