The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen has lauded the Bill that seeks to create 111 additional Special Seats for Women in the National Assembly, as the Bill passes second reading in the House of Representatives.
This is just as she noted, that 2021 represents a great milestone in the Ministry’s advocacy for increasing the participation of Women in governance and decision making.
The Bill sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, when passed into law, will see to the creation of additional 37 seats in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for Women.
The Bill also provides that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the State will be created exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly.
According to the Minister, “This Bill is expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only Women in the National Assembly and State of Assembly.
“As a temporary measure to promote women’s representation, the Bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure”, she said.
She further noted that as they await the final reading, they will not rest on their oars in praying for the 9th National Assembly on the historic milestone recorded in the demand for more political space for women.
