The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna

An overwhelming majority of male lawmakers in Nigeria’s National Assembly are now backing a bill to create reserved seats for women, a prominent female legislator, Zainab Gimba revealed.

Honorable Zainab Gimba, who represents the Bama, Ngala, and Kala Balge constituencies in the House of Representatives, expressed considerable optimism about the bill’s prospects during the weekend.

“This time around, we’re happy to have at least 80% of our male Senators and House of Representatives Members that are supporting the reserved seats for women bill because of its significance,” Gimba stated this in an interview with newsmen at the end of the  recent North East Senate Committee Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, held at the University of Maiduguri.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend various sections of the 1999 Constitution to create additional seats specifically for women. If passed, the Senate, currently composed of 109 members, would see an increase of 37 female senators, with one additional woman from each state and the Federal Capital Territory.

Similarly, the House of Representatives, presently with 360 members, would gain 74 new female representatives, with two additional women from each state and the FCT. At the state level, the bill proposes 108 extra seats for women, adding one female member from each of the three senatorial districts in the 36 state assemblies.

Ms Gimba, who happens to be the only female legislator from Borno State, emphasized the critical importance of these additional seats, citing the substantial, yet often underrepresented, contributions of women to community development across Nigeria. She highlighted that the bill directly addresses the existing gender imbalance, which she believes has hindered the nation’s progress despite women constituting approximately 60% of the population.

Gimba noted that promoters of the bill, both within and outside the National Assembly, are actively working to overcome the obstacles that led to its failure in the 9th National Assembly.

“We’ve identified the loopholes and we’re taking steps to address them,” Gimba affirmed, underscoring a strategic approach to ensure the bill’s successful passage. She added that proponents are committed to “resilience, employing diplomatic efforts, lobbying, and other strategies” to see the “reserved seats for women bill sail through at the National Assembly.”

Gimba had also reassured her male colleagues that the proposed additional seats are not intended to threaten their existing positions but rather to enhance comprehensive representation.