Introduction to the Special Seats Bill
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is optimistic that the National and State Assemblies would pass the special seats Bill aimed at increasing women’s political representation by creating additional, temporary legislative seats exclusively for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Details of the Bill
The Bill seeks to add 37 seats to the Senate, 74 to the House of Representatives, and seats to the State Houses of Assembly, all to be contested only by women. This move is designed to address the underrepresentation of women in the country’s governance and decision-making processes.
Addressing Barriers to Women’s Participation
The National Deputy Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, at an interactive session with reporters at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, explained that the APC has taken steps to address the barriers faced by women regarding participation in decision-making and the governance of the country. Stating that the exclusion of women in governance is a global phenomenon, she explained that the party’s resolve to hand out nomination and expression of interest forms to female candidates is aimed at achieving this goal.
Financial Barriers and Party Support
Acknowledging that most women have not been able to make successful bids against men due to financial barriers, she reiterated her resolve to sustain advocacy on the need to ensure women’s inclusiveness and participation in the governance of the country. The woman leader expressed optimism that the Bill on seat reservation would be speedily passed into law by both the National and State Assemblies. She said, “One of the major barriers is the financial barrier. Women are not financially buoyant, nor are not financially independent to venture into politics. We all know that it is very capitalist and highly capital-intensive. That is why my party has given a zero-nomination form to every woman who wants to contest an election.
Advocacy and Presidential Support
Our party also has a women’s wing advocating for women. We have undertaken a lot of advocacy visits to the National Assembly and even to the NWC of the party. We are the leading party in the two chambers of the National Assembly, and that is why we have the majority leaders who are members of our party. So we have advocated to the NWC to work with our members in the House of Representatives and Senators to support the Bill so that it can be speedily passed at both the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assemblies. The big plus is that we have a very, very, extremely gender-friendly President who, in his wisdom, allowed his wife to go into the Senate three times, who is the longest-serving female senator today.
Conclusion
The APC’s push for the special seats Bill, coupled with its efforts to reduce financial barriers for female candidates, signals a significant step towards increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s governance. With the support of the party and the anticipation of the President’s endorsement, there is optimism that this Bill will be passed, marking a milestone in the inclusion of women in the country’s political landscape.
FAQs
- Q: What is the special seats Bill about?
- A: The Bill aims to increase women’s political representation by creating additional, temporary legislative seats exclusively for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
- Q: How many seats will be added to the Senate and the House of Representatives?
- A: The Bill seeks to add 37 seats to the Senate and 74 seats to the House of Representatives.
- Q: What are the main barriers to women’s participation in politics according to the APC?
- A: Financial barriers are identified as one of the major obstacles, alongside the general exclusion of women in governance, which is recognized as a global phenomenon.
- Q: How does the APC plan to support female candidates?
- A: The party plans to support female candidates by providing them with zero-nomination forms to encourage their participation in elections.
- Q: Is there expected to be presidential support for the Bill?
- A: Yes, the APC anticipates that the President, described as gender-friendly, will support and sign the Bill into law once it is passed by the National Assembly.
