Reserved Seat Bill For Women: Lawmaker Demands For Stakeholders Support
By Simeon OSAJIE
Immediate past Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Barr. Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko has called for stakeholders support for the Nigeria Reserved Seat Bill for Women and the participation of women Professionals in politics to increase quota of women in governance in Nigeria.
Speaking as a panelist at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) 2025 Annual Law Week held at the High Court in Benin, Edo State, Rt. Hon. Oligbi-Edeko, who represents Esan North-East Constituency II at the EDHA, lamented the gross underrepresentation of women in Nigeria parliament due to cultural barriers.
Oligbi- Edeko stated that currently Nigeria has 3.6% women representation in parliament compared to other African countries like Rwanda, Namibia, and Senegal with 61.3%, 46.2%, 44.2% respectively.
The lawmaker called on members of the National and State Assemblies to pass the bill that seeks to provide for seat reservation for women in the National and State Houses of Assemblies; Bill Num. (HB 1349) in the on-going Constitutional Amendment.
She enlightened the participants on the provisions of the bill stating that the bill proposes to create 37 additional seats for women in the Senate, 37 additional seats for women in the House of Representatives and 108 additional seats for women at the State Assemblies. Making a total of 182.
According to the Esan North-East legal luminary cum politician, the additional seats will only give women marginal increase. It is crucial to note that the additional seats do not preclude women from contesting for existing regular seats. The reserved seats do not confer a superior or inferior status on the occupants. Every political party will nominate its female candidate to contest this seat and the women will campaign and be voted for by the electorate.
She further stated that women inclusion is crucial for national growth.
“Society can benefit from a wider talent pool, increased productivity, economic growth, laws that protect vulnerable persons, foster a harmonious society where everyone is valued, better governance and create a more prosperous, equitable, and peaceful future for all,” she stated.
Going further, the ex-Edo Deputy Speaker described the bill as a crucial tool to protect vulnerable groups in Nigerian society.
She called on critical stakeholders; the political, religious and traditional leaders to appeal to members of the National and State Assemblies to pass this bill to correct the imbalance.
She urged stakeholders to collaborate with relevant interest groups to facilitate its passage. Expressing confidence in the National Assembly, Oligbi-Edeko affirmed that the bill, which has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives will soon become law if we all reflect deeply on the benefits of the bill to the Nation & support its passage. “It is not a woman thing; it is for our collective good”. She stated.
Oligbi-Edeko called on women professionals to actively participate in politics to ensure they have a voice in governance. She encouraged women to register in any political party of their choice and participate in upcoming elections to strengthen their influence in political affairs.
She urged women professionals, including those in academia, to enter politics, saying, “there is room for professional women.If you don’t come out to be part of governance, no one will come to your husband’s kitchen to pick you up.”
She encouraged women to take active roles even in local governance, noting that “many married women rarely participate in the affairs of their local government of origin or that of their husbands, so women are totally excluded from the governance of the country.”
Addressing the perception that we struggle for power, she remarked that “You do not struggle for power with unequal. Historically, women have been marginalised in politics, so we are not on the same pedestrian with the men. It is a patriarchy system and a male dominated world.”
Addressing the concerns of cost, she said it will only attract a modest financial increase of less than 1% to the National budget and about 0.22% to the House of Assembly budget, while the cost of women underrepresentation of women to the Nation is about 95.
In a related lecture titled: “Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Representation: Converging Roles for Effective Nation-Building,” Professor Yinka Omorogbe, represented by Professor Oyinkansola Okunsanya, described Nigeria’s female political representation as “alarming and condemnable.”
She compared Nigeria’s 3.7% female representation with Rwanda’s leading position and Serbia’s 67+%, urging organizations like the NBA and FIDA to champion enforcement of constitutional provisions for women’s representation.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Chairman of the event, Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Andrew Okungbowa, congratulated the Benin Lion Bar for the success of the 2025 Law Week and urged all members to uphold the rule of law to maintain the branch’s reputation as the most admired in the country.
