Tuesday 20 / May / 2025
Abuja: Women in Nigeria make up nearly half of the population, but they are almost invisible in parliament. The country's senate has only four women compared to 109 men. In the House of Representatives, female lawmakers occupy only 16 of the 360 seats. Even more surprising is that all of Nigeria's 36 governors are men.
Gender rights advocates and civil society organisations are now throwing their weight behind new legislation known as the "Reserved Seat for Women bill," which could force change by reserving a set number of seats for women in federal and state legislatures.
"Only 4.3% of Nigeria's federal lawmakers are women. That's not representation, That's exclusion," Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, a gender rights advocate in the Nigerian capital Abuja, who is promoting the passage of the new bill, told DW.
"The current political landscape in Nigeria does not favour women's entrance into politics and governance because it's skewed from the very beginning," Ogwuche said, adding that the new bill would allow more women to contest for political office.
"Reserving seats for women, particularly those with disabilities, is a crucial step forward in promoting inclusivity and representation currently lacking in Nigeria," Angelina Ugben, another proponent of the bill, told DW.
Supporters of the bill say it could propel Nigeria towards a more inclusive governance. Ogwuche believes that more women in government could lead to smarter policies and a more stable economy.
"Rwanda has outpaced Nigeria in gender equality and has seen better economic outcomes," she said. "We suffer from a healthcare emergency today; We suffer from an education crisis." For her, more women in governance could help improve these situations.
"It's critical and the time is now to ensure that women get involved. When women rise, nations rise."
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Nigeria ranks poorly in women's representation
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a Paris-based international organization of national parliaments, Nigeria ranks 179 out of 183
in terms of women's representation in national parliaments globally, despite being Africa's most populous country.
"You can't claim to be a democracy when half the population is missing from the table," Hamzat Lawal, a civil society coordinator and election observer, told DW.
He said it was unsurprising that Nigeria was in the position it was now because women had not played a prominent role in social and political development. "We need this bill. The bill gives equal playing ground to women."
Analysts such as Ogwuche agree that women are systemically excluded from the political process.
"The party system does not allow women to emerge victorious," she complained, stressing that even when the women aspirants win the ticket, it's given to a fellow man or somebody with more political clout, even when the constituents want women to represent them.
"They are rigged out of the primary election, and even the few that make it to the general elections are beaten, are bulldozed, are shoved aside just so the male candidates of the political party in power, or whoever has the most thugs, or the most muscles, win the election."
More women role models needed
Nigeria is home to famous women such as Amina Mohammed, the current Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation. Yet, it lags in the political space.
Supporters of the bill argue that creating space for women in governance is not just about representation. It is about creating a more equitable and just society. "How do we solve complex problems like insecurity, unemployment, or failing infrastructure when we're leaving half the population out of decision-making?" Ugben asked.
"This bill has the potential to amplify the voices of women who are often being marginalised and excluded from decision making process. So by reserving these seats, we can ensure that women have a platform to share their prestige, prospective and experiences."
Civil society groups are calling for urgency, stressing that passing the bill would not only align Nigeria with global democratic norms but could also inspire a new generation of women to lead at every level, from local government councils to the presidency.
