Uba Sani reserved seats for women proposal seeks constitutional backing to address gender imbalance in Nigeria’s legislative representation

The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, on Thursday called for constitutional backing for reserved legislative seats for women, lamenting that women’s participation in Nigerian politics remains grossly disproportionate to their population size and voting strength.

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Governor Sani made the call in Kaduna at the flag off of the North West zonal campaign for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, an initiative being pursued under the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

He noted that women account for nearly half of Nigeria’s population and an even higher share of active voters, yet continue to be marginalised in both elective and appointive political offices.

According to the governor, women currently occupy less than five per cent of legislative seats at the national level, a situation he described as unacceptable and inconsistent with democratic ideals.

Governor Sani observed that the North West has historically recorded low female participation in elective politics, attributing the trend to entrenched social norms, economic barriers and limited access to political networks.

“This disparity is not a reflection of capacity or competence. It is the result of structural, cultural, economic and institutional barriers that have persisted for decades,” he said.

He added that such realities could change with deliberate institutional reforms, intentional leadership and greater confidence among women seeking political office.

Governor Sani said Kaduna State offered a compelling example of what could be achieved through purposeful inclusion, noting that the state currently leads Northern Nigeria in women’s political representation.

He cited the presence of a female Deputy Governor, a female Majority Leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the first in the North West, a female Head of Service and a female elected Local Government Chairman in Jaba Local Government Area.

The governor also noted that women currently head key ministries, including Health, Business Innovation, Youth Development and Women Affairs, as well as several strategic parastatals across the state.

According to him, these milestones demonstrate that women can win elections, lead effectively and command public trust when given a fair and level playing field.

“These achievements did not happen by accident. They are the result of deliberate choices, inclusive leadership and the courage of women who stepped forward to contest and serve,” Governor Sani said.

He recalled Nigeria’s international and domestic commitments to gender inclusion, including the Beijing Declaration’s 30 per cent affirmative action benchmark and the National Gender Policy’s 35 per cent target.

Governor Sani explained that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill aligns with global democratic best practices and seeks to address persistent under representation through constitutionally guaranteed legislative seats.

He said the bill proposes 182 additional seats for women across the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, including one seat per state and the Federal Capital Territory in both the Senate and House of Representatives, and three seats per state in the Houses of Assembly.

The governor stressed that the proposed seats would not displace existing legislators but would expand representation as a temporary corrective measure spanning four election cycles.

Also speaking at the event, the All Progressives Congress National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile Idele, expressed concern over the steady decline in women’s representation in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2023.

She said that by 2019 and again in 2023, women occupied fewer than five per cent of seats in the National Assembly, describing the situation as one of the lowest rates globally.

Dr Idele described the proposed legislation as a powerful intervention that would create protected political space for women, inspire young girls across the country and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

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She added that the bill was not a concession to women but a strategic investment in the nation’s democratic future.