By Michael Oche
Gender inclusion advocates have called on the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, to support the speedy passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill as part of efforts to boost women’s political inclusion in Nigeria.
The call was made in Abuja during a Citizens’ Summit organised by the Galleon Bay Deck of NAS to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to create reserved seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, a move proponents say is necessary to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in governance.
Speakers at the summit highlighted systemic barriers that continue to limit women’s access to political office, urging members of the association to leverage their influence in advancing legislative and societal reforms that promote gender equity.
President of the Nigeria League of Women Voters, Irene Awuna-Ikyegh, lamented the declining number of women in elective positions, noting that Nigeria’s democratic journey has not translated into improved representation for women.
She recalled the contributions of prominent female figures such as Hajiya Gambo Sawaba and Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, stressing that women have historically played vital roles in Nigeria’s political development.
Awuna-Ikyegh, however, expressed concern that current statistics reflect a worrying regression, with only four female senators in the 109-member Senate and 15 women in the 360-member House of Representatives. She added that 15 states currently have no female lawmakers in their assemblies.
According to her, political violence, including online harassment, and entrenched cultural norms that frame politics as a male-dominated space remain major obstacles to women’s participation.
She warned that without urgent intervention, the situation could worsen ahead of the 2027 general elections, with projections suggesting a further decline in women’s representation.
Awuna-Ikyegh also criticised delays in the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, noting that failure to secure its approval within the required legislative timeline could make it inapplicable for the next election cycle.
“The bill is critical to creating inclusive political opportunities and correcting long-standing gender imbalances in governance,” she said.
In her remarks, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Faith Nwadishi, urged citizens to actively engage lawmakers and demand accountability, emphasising that inclusive governance requires sustained public pressure.
“We must use our voices to compel our representatives to pass this bill. Creating an enabling environment for women in politics is not optional—it is necessary for democratic growth,” she said.
Nwadishi further underscored the urgency of the issue by citing local governance data from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where only one woman emerged out of 68 councillors in the most recent elections.
She argued that Nigeria has “not tried women enough” in leadership positions, calling for a shift away from a political culture that portrays governance as an exclusively male domain.
Participants at the summit called for sustained advocacy, institutional reforms, and broader societal reorientation to ensure equal opportunities for women in Nigeria’s political space.
They stressed that passing the Reserved Seats for Women Bill would mark a significant step toward achieving gender balance and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
