The 2025 Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch, opened with strong endorsements from the leadership of the National Assembly for the Reserved Seats Bill, as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu declared it essential to boost women’s political representation in Nigeria.
The event, themed “Advancing Women’s Representation: Reserved Seats and the Future of Nigeria’s Legislature,” brought together lawmakers, diplomats, legal experts, and gender advocates to chart a path toward greater inclusion in national governance.
Represented by Senator Idiat Oluranti, Akpabio lauded FIDA for championing gender equality, describing the theme as timely and reflective of the urgent need for inclusiveness in legislative leadership.
He shared personal reflections on his upbringing, crediting his late mother’s resilience for shaping his values.
“A balanced government is a stronger government. No nation rises without its women,” Akpabio said. “Reserving seats for women is a task that must be done—and will be done.”
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, delivered a compelling keynote address, warning that Nigeria could no longer ignore its “structural imbalance” in political representation.
Citing statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Kalu noted that although women make up 49.43% of the population, they occupy fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly—a ranking of 178 out of 182 countries globally.
“When women are absent from the legislature, perspectives disappear, conversations narrow, and our laws lose the balance democracy requires,” he said.
Kalu—sponsor of the Reserved Seats Bill (HB 1349)—argued that decades of advocacy had not dismantled systemic barriers, including party gatekeeping, campaign financing challenges, and sociocultural norms. He emphasized that implementing reserved seats would cost less than 1% of the National Assembly’s annual budget, yet yield enormous national benefits.
He further disclosed that the Constitution Review Committee, which he chairs, has placed inclusion at the heart of its agenda, with ongoing public hearings and nationwide consultations.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to initiatives that advance women’s rights and leadership.
Representing Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara stressed that the bill “is a correction, not a favour,” insisting that political parties must dismantle barriers that keep women out of leadership.
Diplomatic representatives also threw their weight behind the bill.
The UK Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever, urged FIDA to sustain its advocacy and mentor emerging leaders, noting, “When women hold political positions, society prospers. It’s an economic strategy.”
Likewise, Swiss Ambassador Patrick Egloff described the present moment as “a tremendous opportunity” for Nigeria to empower the girl child with role models who reflect their aspirations.
Delivering her goodwill message, FIDA International President Ezinwa Okoroafor reassured skeptics that the reserved seats proposal is a temporary corrective measure with a mandatory review after 16 years.
“This bill is a game-changing opportunity. I urge the National Assembly to embrace it,” she said.
