Envisioning Young Women in the Reserved Seats Bill 

I have spoken, written and keep lending my voice on the matter of inclusive leadership centering on young women and people with disabilities as core members of the youth population in Nigeria. The advocacy of the reserved seats bill goes beyond the voting of the NASS to ensure that the stakeholders of this policy who are also the beneficiaries of the legislation, are well represented, informed and equipped to imbibe this bill as should. The reserved seats bill seeks to add additional seats to the House of Representatives, Senate and State Houses of Assembly. These seats will be occupied through election and the women who occupy this seats will increase the number visibility of women in positions of parliamentary leadership. 

Reserved Seats Bill – What are the Benefits?

Despite remarkable achievements by women across many sectors, positions of leadership through politics, for women in NASS, needs to be improved. Overall representation of women in governance has to be increased to position Nigeria as a Nation demonstrating inclusion, creating space for leadership that is unbiased and the full utilisation of resources for our country.

RESERVED SEATS BILL – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Currently, the Senate consists of 109 Senators, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The bill proposes one additional Senator for each state and the FCT, with each woman contesting this Reserved Seat for Women representing her entire state. The House of Representatives comprises 360 members. This bill proposes one additional female member for each state and the FCT, with each woman contesting the Reserved Seat for Women representing her entire state