The House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA) has described the Special Seats Bill as a strategic measure to promote inclusive governance rather than replace men’s seats in the legislature.
Dr Fatima Tajudeen-Abbas, the President of HORSA, said this during the association’s advocacy visit to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) to intensify the passage of the Special Seats Bill for women on Thursday in Abuja.
Tajudeen-Abbas said the proposed legislation was aimed at increasing women’s participation in decision-making and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process through broader representation.
She called for stronger collaboration between HORSA and PLAC, stressing that strategic partnership was critical to advancing advocacy efforts and securing the bill’s passage.
She maintained that successful passage of the bill would require sustained advocacy, stakeholder engagement and coordinated efforts among civil society organisations, lawmakers and development partners.
“PLAC is one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions promoting democratic governance, legislative strengthening, civic engagement and inclusive representation.
“We commend the organisation for its continued support for legislative institutions.
We also commend its commitment to advancing women’s political participation through sustained advocacy for the Special Seats Bill.
“This bill represents more than a constitutional amendment.
“It is a pathway towards a more inclusive, representative and equitable democracy where women have greater opportunities to contribute to governance and national development,” she said.
The HORSA president proposed a joint high-level strategic workshop between the association and PLAC to bring together legislators, advocates, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen support for the bill.
Mr Clement Nwankwo, the Executive Director of PLAC, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote women’s political participation and representation.
Nwankwo said PLAC had spent more than seven years studying successful models of women’s representation across Africa, including experiences from South Africa, Senegal and Kenya.
He said the findings from those engagements informed part of the development of the Special Seats Bill and other advocacy initiatives aimed at improving women’s representation in governance.
“While compromises may be required during the legislative process, increasing the number of women in elected offices remains critical to strengthening democratic governance and broadening representation,” he said.
Nwankwo clarified that the appropriate title of the proposed legislation is the Special Seats for Women Bill.
He noted that different descriptions had emerged as the bill evolved through consultations and legislative reviews.
He added that the priority for stakeholders remained securing the passage of the bill, after which it’s final title and provisions would be reflected in law.
Mrs Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, said misconceptions surrounding the bill remained one of the major obstacles to its acceptance.
Akande-Sadipe argued that many male lawmakers viewed the proposal as a challenge to existing political structures rather than an effort to broaden representation.
According to her, the bill is not intended to displace male lawmakers or create competition between men and women, but to provide additional opportunities for qualified women to contribute to national development.
“My personal opinion is that this bill is not a challenge to the old boys’ network. It is often misunderstood.
“We must clearly communicate that these seats are not intended to replace existing seats or displace elected male legislators.
“Rather, they are designed to create additional opportunities for women to contribute to governance,” she said.
The lawmaker stressed the need for advocates to fully understand and communicate the objectives of the bill, particularly its benefits for national development and inclusive governance.
She suggested that women seeking the reserved seats should emerge through transparent and competitive electoral processes to ensure credibility and public confidence.
According to her, women bring unique perspectives to governance, particularly on issues affecting children, families and vulnerable groups, which are often overlooked in policymaking.
Akande-Sadipe said her personal experiences and international engagements had shown that greater female representation leads to more inclusive policies and improved governance outcomes.
She urged supporters of the bill to focus on demonstrating the value women bring to leadership rather than presenting the issue as a contest between men and women.
“The goal is not to take anyone’s place. The goal is to strengthen governance by ensuring that capable women are represented and able to contribute their expertise to national development,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs Kafilat Ogbara, appealed to spouses of lawmakers to continue supporting efforts to secure the passage of the bill.
Ogbara described the spouses as critical stakeholders with significant influence and urged them to sustain engagement with their partners in support of women’s inclusion in governance.
“There is very little our men can do without your support; once you tell them that this is important and in your interest, they will listen.
“You are among the most important stakeholders in this process, and your support is crucial to the success of the bill,” she said.
The stakeholders unanimously called for sustained advocacy and collaboration to secure the passage of the Special Seats Bill, describing it as a critical step towards achieving gender-inclusive governance in Nigeria.