The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured that the 10th Senate will provide strong backing for the Bill seeking to create special legislative seats for women in the Nigerian Parliament.
Akpabio made this commitment on Monday while hosting a delegation from the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in his office. The delegation, led by British MP Kate Ofunne Osamor, sought to understand the level of Senate support for the proposed legislation, which aims to enhance women’s representation in Nigerian politics.
The Bill, initially introduced during the 9th National Assembly’s Constitution Review process but failing to pass, has now been reintroduced by the House of Representatives in the current Assembly. It represents a renewed effort to bridge the gender gap in political leadership and decision-making.
Akpabio emphasized that the Nigerian Senate is committed to gender inclusivity and parliamentary cooperation, stating:
“We want to assure you that the Bill you are referring to will be highly supported by us.”
He expressed optimism that the engagement with CPA UK would strengthen bilateral ties, foster knowledge exchange, and create lasting collaboration between Nigerian and British legislators.
“At the end of this visit, we would have formed a strong CPA UK Parliamentary/Nigeria Cooperation that will outlive us, bringing about good governance, freedom of speech, and association, improving trade relations, and enhancing the living standards of people in both our countries,” Akpabio added.
Kate Osamor reaffirmed the CPA UK delegation’s commitment to advocating for the passage of the Bill. She highlighted the importance of cross-party collaboration and international partnerships in ensuring greater female representation in governance.
“We really want to hear from you and know what you are doing to support this Bill to ensure it becomes a reality. Our delegation comprises cross-party members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which is similar to the Senate. We want to learn from you, exchange ideas, and start a meaningful conversation. If this Bill is successful, we can explore further areas of collaboration,” Osamor stated.
The visit marks a significant step toward fostering gender equality in governance. With strong Senate backing and international support, hopes are high that Nigeria will take decisive action to increase female participation in legislative affairs.
