morganable politics/Governance
Current figures show that the 10th National Assembly has only four female senators and 16 female members in the House of Representatives, a situation that has drawn criticism from advocates of gender equality and democratic inclusion.
KaNo —
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is set to transmit executive bills to the National Assembly seeking the creation of special seats for women and Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria’s federal and state legislatures, in what is being described as a major push toward inclusive governance.
Abbas made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during a reception organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in honour of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Prof Justin Green, who is in Nigeria ahead of a major global communication forum.
According to the Speaker, the proposed legislation would establish additional seats for women and persons with disabilities beyond the current elective positions, marking a significant institutional reform aimed at addressing longstanding gaps in political representation.
He explained that the reserved seats initiative for women had already advanced to the Federal Ministry of Justice for final review, while a similar executive bill for persons with disabilities would be transmitted to lawmakers within weeks.
“We have come up with a lot of innovations in the 10th Assembly since 2023,” Abbas said.
“One of them is to ensure that women inclusivity is given prominence. We have persuaded Mr President, and he has accepted, for the very first time, to sponsor executive bills to provide special seats for women. And that will be independent of the regular seats that are being contested.”he added.
He added that the process was nearing completion, noting that the President had directed the Ministry of Justice to fine-tune the proposal before its formal presentation to the legislature.
Abbas further revealed that efforts were also underway to institutionalise representation for persons with disabilities at both the national and subnational levels.
“We also initiated and facilitated, through Mr President, for the very first time, the inclusion of representation for persons with disabilities in the National Assembly and the subnational legislatures,” he said.
“We are hoping that within the next few weeks, Mr President will also bring an executive bill that will enable persons with disabilities to have a say at both the national and subnational levels of our parliament.”he added.
Details of the proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill indicate that it forms part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
The bill seeks to create additional seats exclusively for women without affecting existing constituencies or displacing current officeholders.
Under the proposal, 37 new seats would be added to the Senate and another 37 to the House of Representatives, with one seat allocated to each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
At the state level, each of the 36 Houses of Assembly would receive three additional seats reserved for women, corresponding to the three senatorial districts in each state.
The arrangement is expected to run for four general election cycles, spanning 16 years, after which it would be reviewed to assess its impact and determine the next course of action.
The move is widely seen as a response to Nigeria’s persistently low representation of women in elective offices.
Current figures show that the 10th National Assembly has only four female senators and 16 female members in the House of Representatives, a situation that has drawn criticism from advocates of gender equality and democratic inclusion.
In parallel, a separate bill before the House, identified as HB 1931, seeks to create special legislative seats for persons with disabilities across federal, state and local government levels.
The proposal includes provisions for one additional representative from each of the six geopolitical zones in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Observers say the twin initiatives signal a shift toward a more inclusive political framework, aligning Nigeria with global trends that promote affirmative action as a means of correcting structural imbalances in governance.
Speaking further at the event, Abbas emphasised the importance of cooperation between the two chambers of the National Assembly in advancing key reforms.
He noted that the Senate and the House of Representatives had maintained a strong working relationship since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
“The National Assembly operates as a bicameral legislature,” he said. “We are proud that the relationship between the two chambers has been very good. We operate seamlessly and collaborate on every matter of national importance that is brought before us.”
He added that while both chambers retained their independence, they continued to work together to ensure the passage of legislation that addresses critical national issues.
The Speaker also used the occasion to highlight Nigeria’s forthcoming hosting of a major international public relations event, describing it as a milestone for the country.
He said the World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association Conference, scheduled for November 15 to 21, 2026, in Abuja, would attract participants from across the globe.
According to him, about 3,000 delegates from 126 countries are expected to attend the forum, making it one of the largest gatherings of communication professionals ever hosted in Nigeria.
He commended Prof Green and the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, for their roles in securing the hosting rights and preparing for the event.
In his remarks, Green praised the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly Abbas, for championing initiatives that promote inclusivity and broader representation in governance.
“What you have done is phenomenal,” he said.
“while the blood of the Global Alliance runs through me, I think the heart is in a man like you who actually delivers on all elements from young to old.”he added.
Neliaku, on his part, recounted the rigorous process Nigeria underwent to secure the hosting rights for the global forum.
He explained that although the country won the bid in March 2025, it was later required to defend its readiness before international stakeholders in Venice in June of the same year.
“After we won the bid, we thought it was over, but it wasn’t,” he said. “We had to go to Venice to defend our preparedness. It was unusual, but we rose to the challenge.”
He expressed confidence that Nigeria would successfully host the event, noting that preparations were at an advanced stage with support from the Federal Government.
The Presidency had earlier assured organisers of its commitment to the success of the forum. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the assurance on August 20 while receiving members of the planning committee at the State House in Abuja.
As the proposed bills await transmission, stakeholders say their passage could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution by expanding representation and giving historically marginalised groups a stronger voice in governance.
