By Glory Mfoniso
ABUJA- As the date for the resumption of legislators from their recess draws closer, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, says the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill before the National Assembly presents a great opportunity to correct the gender imbalance in leadership and strengthen the nation’s democracy.
Speaking during a Legislative Advocacy webinar convened by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Minister stressed that Nigeria must not miss the chance to bridge long-standing significant gaps in representation, and project itself as a democracy committed to fairness and global best practices.
“This bill presents a historic opportunity to correct the imbalance in representation. For too long, policies that directly affect women and girls have been shaped without adequate female voices at the table. By ensuring women’s inclusion, Nigeria will be reinforcing the strength of our democracy while aligning with international standards,” she declared.
The Minister commended the present crop of Leaders at the national and subnational levels, appealing for strategic support.
“For the first time, we have leaders, that understand gender issues and the importance of, mainstreaming gender into all of our affairs, knowing that it’s smart economics, that for any country to address economic gaps, you have to future both genders so that we don’t continue to limp on one leg…Most men you see today in leadership positions know the importance of having women in those roles,”
The Minister further appealed for stock taking asserting that the bill presents a great opportunity to correct the age long gaps.
“…We have significant gaps that we must take into incognizance. You wonder why we still have insecurity, why we have very weak communities… When they do a Council of States meeting, maybe the only female you have now are the Chief Justice of the Federation. But when it comes to actually, formulating policies that matter… which are the women and the girls, there’s no female representation,” she stated.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also observed that women already bear a significant share of the nation’s socio-economic responsibilities and deserve a place where decisions are made.
“Today in Nigeria, more than 70 percent of homes are headed by women who serve as breadwinners. Women and men think differently, they solve problems differently. For any nation to truly address economic gaps, both genders must feature, so that we do not continue to limp on one leg,” she stressed.
The Minister emphasised that the Bill must be treated as a serious legal instrument to avoid implementation gaps.
“This is not a jamboree. My only caution is that we should be very, very mindful and we should ensure that we perfect this legal instrument so that when it’s being passed, it’s implementable and it can be able to quickly solve our problems… the last thing we want is to end up with a problem and trying to solve a problem. This is something that can make history,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim declared.
She committed to leading the cause and playing her part as the focal Ministry for Women Affairs; “In Nigeria, 26 years democracy,… it’s about time that we get things right. So I’m so excited. I’m going to be leading, being a core part of this,’ll play my part,”
In her contribution, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, commended the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other stakeholders for their leadership in advancing the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as a bold step for Nigeria’s democracy.
“I would believe the bill is yet another opportunity to deepen that reform agenda by strengthening Nigeria’s democratisation process… Now, the HB 1349 is not about special favours. It is about fairness. It is about justice and nation building,” she said.
The UNDP Representative also cited lessons from other African nations.
“Other African countries have walked this path with success. We know that Rwanda, Tanzania, Senegal, and Uganda have demonstrated that when women are in Parliament in greater numbers, Parliament delivers more inclusive policies, stronger economies, and more resilient societies. The evidence is clear. Rwanda’s Parliament, where women hold over 60% of seats, has championed far-reaching reforms in education, child health, digital inclusion… Uganda’s reserve seat for women has enabled stronger legislation on gender-based violence, maternal health, and significant affirmative action programmes for women’s economic empowerment,” she noted.
Situating the discourse to Nigeria, Attafuah reminded that Nigerian families already nurture daughters with aspirations that equal to any nation’s needs.
“Every Nigerian family invests heavily in the education of their daughters… Many of these young women rise to global platforms as scholars, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Why then should they not also have a platform to play a role in nation-building, in governance, in shaping Nigeria’s future? This is a once-in-a-generation window, friends… With momentum for women’s groups, bipartisan champions, and public support, the 10th Assembly can make history. Nigeria can make history,” she stressed.
She concluded by reaffirming the UNDP’s support.
“Passing this bill will send a powerful message that Nigeria believes in the potential of all its citizens, women and men, to shape its future. Because inclusive governance is not just the right thing to do, it is also about smart economics, smart politics, smart development. So colleagues and friends, this is Nigeria’s moment to rise. Let us not miss it,” Ms. Attafuah affirmed.
The Reserved Seats Bill (HB 1349) seeks to create additional parliamentary positions exclusively for women, aimed at broadening women representation and strengthening Nigeria’s governance and democratic process.
The webinar themed “Understanding HB1349” aimed at deepening a wider understanding of the Reserved Seats Bill, unpacking the real intent of the bill, addressing prevailing myths, and highlighting its potential to transform representation and governance in Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the webinar urged citizens to ensure its passage by the 10th National Assembly by taking ownership of the process, to build a country where everyone truly has a seat at the table through sustained advocacy, accountability, and cross-party support .
