Constitutional reform: 182 seats reserved for women in Nigeria stir debate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Nigeria's National Assembly proposes creating 182 additional seats reserved for women, 74 at federal level and 108 in state assemblies. Female lawmakers and civil society disagree: some consider the number insufficient, while others call for more seats and transparent selection procedures, according to Leadership.
The bill on reserved seats for women, which aims to create 182 additional legislative seats reserved for women in Nigeria, is dividing opinion. According to Leadership, it provides for 37 additional seats in each of the two chambers of the federal Parliament, one per state and one for the Federal Capital Territory, as well as three seats in each of the 36 state assemblies.
In total, these seats are divided into 74 at federal level and 108 in state assemblies, and would be added to existing posts. Women currently hold four of the 109 seats in the Senate and 14 of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.
Kafilat Ogbara, the lawmaker for the Kosofe federal constituency in Lagos State, is calling for the text to be adopted. Other critics consider the allocation insufficient and call for more seats as well as transparent selection procedures.
