By Nkechi Eze
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and The Electoral Hub have called for urgent legislative action to improve women’s political representation in Nigeria, urging the National Assembly to immediately pass the Special Seats for Women Bill.
The groups made the call in a statement to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, aligning with the United Nations theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” The organisations said the theme represents a powerful call for structural change to ensure the full realisation of rights and justice for women and girls globally.
According to the statement signed by the Director of IRIAD–The Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, the day serves not only as a moment to celebrate women’s achievements but also as an opportunity for reflection on the persistent inequalities women continue to face, particularly in political representation.
The organisations noted that despite global progress, women still enjoy only about 64 per cent of the legal rights available to men worldwide, according to data from UN Women. In Nigeria, they said, the situation is particularly concerning as women and girls make up nearly half of the country’s population but remain largely excluded from key decision-making spaces.
They described the country’s gender representation gap as one of the most severe globally, pointing out that women currently occupy less than 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly of Nigeria.
According to the advocacy groups, women hold approximately 3.6 per cent of seats in the Senate and about 4.17 per cent in the House of Representatives, while representation in state Houses of Assembly stands at just 4.83 per cent.
They argued that the proposed Special Seats for Women Bill is intended to address this imbalance by creating additional opportunities for women to participate in governance. The bill, they explained, does not prevent women from contesting in existing constituencies but rather serves as a temporary corrective mechanism designed to strengthen gender inclusion in Nigeria’s political system.
However, the organisations expressed concern that the legislative process surrounding the bill has been characterised by repeated delays despite earlier assurances from lawmakers.
They warned that with the 2027 general elections approaching, continued postponement could further entrench the structural exclusion of women from political decision-making processes.
In addition to urging lawmakers to pass the bill, the groups outlined several key recommendations to stakeholders. They called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill and ensure its swift transmission to state Houses of Assembly for ratification.
The organisations also urged the executive arm of government to accelerate implementation of the National Gender Policy while strengthening gender-focused institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the gender unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice through improved funding and institutional capacity.
Political parties were encouraged to adopt internal gender quotas of at least 30 to 35 per cent for candidate selection ahead of the 2027 elections and to enforce strict policies against violence, harassment and intimidation of women in politics.
Civil society organisations were also urged to intensify advocacy efforts and maintain sustained pressure on lawmakers until the bill is passed, while the media was encouraged to expand coverage of women’s political participation and counter misinformation surrounding gender quotas.
The advocacy groups stressed that Nigeria has reached a critical moment in its democratic journey, arguing that the evidence for greater inclusion of women in governance is overwhelming.
They insisted that the continued delay in passing the Special Seats for Women Bill undermines the promise of equitable representation for Nigerian women.
Reaffirming their commitment to the campaign, IRIAD and The Electoral Hub said they would continue to mobilise stakeholders and push for the passage of the legislation.
The groups concluded that the message of International Women’s Day 2026 is clear: the time has come to translate advocacy into action and ensure that Nigerian women are fully represented in the nation’s political system.
