Tinubu promises to back women’s reserved seats bill

President Bola Tinubu has promised to support the Women’s Reserved Seats Bill. This bill aims to boost women’s representation in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.

Mr Tinubu made this promise on Wednesday. He spoke during the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the State House in Abuja. This event is part of preparations for the upcoming 2027 general election.

“You women are the greatest mobilisers, and I assure you of a sponsorship of the Women Reserve Seat Bill,” the president said.

“Go and work for it; it will come to fruition to increase the number of women’s representation at both the National Assembly and subnational level. I assure you that.”

This promise comes as people raise concerns about the slow progress in passing the proposed constitutional amendment. Many are also worried about the government’s history with women’s inclusion in political roles.

The campaign council is led by Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General. They plan to kick off their presidential campaign in Kaduna on 24 October.

The Women’s Reserved Seats Bill is a proposed constitutional change aimed at addressing the low number of women in Nigeria’s legislative bodies. The idea is to create extra seats in the legislature specifically for women, not to take away seats from those already elected.

The bill is backed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, along with other lawmakers. It has gone through legislative review as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

The proposal suggests adding one extra Senate seat for women from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It also includes reserved seats in the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.

Despite earlier promises about the bill’s progress, it has faced delays. Mr Kalu, who leads the House Committee on Constitution Review, had said lawmakers would vote on this proposal in late 2025.

That vote did not happen when expected, leaving many unsure about when the constitutional changes will finalize. The bill is now expected to reach the National Assembly for a third reading in October. After that, it will go to state assemblies and the President for approval.

For the bill to become law, it needs the required support in the National Assembly and at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before the President can sign it.

As the 2027 electoral season kicks off, the delay in passing this gender bill may mean Nigerian women miss another chance to enhance their political involvement.

Mr Tinubu’s recent promise comes over three years after he vowed to boost women’s participation in government during his 2023 presidential campaign.

In his campaign plan, Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria, he promised to set aside at least 35 percent of government jobs for women. He also suggested new laws to improve women’s representation in public roles.

Yet, the makeup of his administration has not met that target. Only eight out of his 48 ministers are women, which is just 17 percent. This is far below the 35 percent benchmark set by affirmative action and the National Gender Policy.