Women Groups Decry Absence of Rep’s Office, Call for Rescheduled Visit Over Special Seats Bill
Coalition pushes for 72 reserved seats as no representative was present during advocacy visit
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia
A coalition of women-focused organisations, including the Nigeria League of Women Voters, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists and the National Council of Women Societies, has intensified calls for inclusive governance with a renewed push for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill.
The advocacy visit, carried out on March 24, 2026, however recorded a setback at the office of Abubakar Hassan Na-Labara, Member representing Awe, Doma and Keana Federal Constituency, where the delegation expressed disappointment over the absence of both the lawmaker and any official representative.
According to the group, no aide or authorised personnel was available to receive them at the premises, with only security personnel on duty at the time of the visit.
The development, they noted, undermines ongoing efforts to promote constructive engagement between elected representatives and constituents on critical national issues.
The delegation was led by the State Coordinator of the Nigeria League of Women Voters, Halima Hudu Abubakar, who reiterated the group’s commitment to advancing gender equity and strengthening women’s participation in governance through the proposed allocation of 72 reserved legislative seats for women across Nigeria.
Following the development, the coalition called for a rescheduling of the visit to enable proper engagement with the lawmaker on the urgent need to support the bill.
In their petition dated March 23, 2026, the coalition described women’s representation in Nigeria’s political system as “grossly inadequate,” noting that participation in elective positions remains below five percent, among the lowest globally.
They maintained that the proposed constitutional amendment bill seeks to correct longstanding imbalances and align Nigeria with global best practices on inclusive governance. I'll
Drawing comparisons with countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, the groups emphasized that the adoption of reserved seats has significantly improved women’s representation and strengthened democratic institutions in those nations.
The coalition reaffirmed its resolve to continue engaging stakeholders across the country to ensure the eventual passage of the bill, stressing that inclusive governance remains key to sustainable national development.
