The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called for stronger support for the proposed Reserved Seats Bill, stressing that the initiative should not be seen as a privilege for women but as a necessary corrective measure to address Nigeria’s longstanding imbalance in political representation.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja to mark the opening of the 2025 FIDA Nigeria Abuja Branch Law Week, FIDA Chairperson, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, said Nigeria is “at a constitutional crossroads,” with women still significantly underrepresented in governance despite their contributions to national development.
She argued that democracy cannot thrive when half of the population continues to be excluded from leadership and decision-making roles.
Onyenucheya-Uko traced the structural barriers women have faced in political participation, noting that although elections began in Nigeria in 1923, women in the southern and eastern regions only gained voting rights in 1954, while women in the northern region waited until 1979. She added that the era of military rule from 1966 to 1999 further entrenched gender inequality, as all national and state leaders during that period were men.
She maintained that this history underscores why the Reserved Seats Bill is essential.
“Reserved seats for women is not a gift; it is a corrective tool, a long-overdue restructuring, and an investment in inclusive governance and national stability,” she said.
She explained that the bill aligns with FIDA Abuja’s 2025 agenda of strengthening women’s political participation, promoting gender-responsive legislation, and ensuring women take active roles as leaders and decision-makers—not just voters.
Onyenucheya-Uko urged lawmakers to pass the bill without delay, encouraged political parties to open more platforms for qualified women, and called on the media and civil society to amplify and support initiatives that advance gender-balanced leadership.
She also encouraged Nigerian women to engage actively in politics, whether through reserved seats or open contests, stressing that national decision-making remains incomplete without the voices of women.
Also speaking at the event, Chairperson of the Law Week Committee, Wendy Kuku, SAN, said this year’s Law Week is particularly significant given the rising national debate about women’s political representation.
She noted that the programme aims to promote understanding of mechanisms such as reserved seats and how they can bridge representation gaps, strengthen democracy, and support more inclusive governance.
Kuku added that the objective is not just to spark dialogue, but to inspire concrete reforms that make Nigeria’s future legislature more reflective, equitable, and just.
