Governors' Wives Urge Passage of Special Seats Bill

The wives of Nigerian governors are intensifying their call for the National Assembly to pass the Special Seats Bill, which aims to improve women's representation in governance and strengthen Nigeria's democracy ahead of the 2027 elections. This initiative was discussed during a strategic meeting focused on women's political leadership and inclusion, convened by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and supported by the Nigerian Bar Association's Section on Public Interest and Development Law.

Olufolak Abdulrazaq, the First Lady of Kwara State and chairperson of the Nigeria Governors' Spouses Forum, highlighted that Nigeria lags significantly behind global standards, with women currently holding only 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide. She warned that at the current pace, gender parity may not be achieved until 2060, as women occupy fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly.

Kafilat Ogbara, chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, noted that the Special Seats Bill is gaining traction within the National Assembly leadership. However, she acknowledged that work is needed to secure approval at both federal and state levels.