As Nigeria joined the world to mark International Women’s Day, calls for greater inclusion of women in governance intensified, highlighting the country’s need to increase female political representation.

Mrs Vivian Efem-Bassey, a development specialist and programme coordinator for the Women’s Voice and Leadership–Nigeria Project at ActionAid Nigeria, emphasised the urgent need for more women in parliament.

She made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.

According to Mrs Efem-Bassey, women currently occupy less than five per cent of legislative seats in Nigeria, far below the global benchmark of around 26 per cent.

She described this gap as alarming and indicative of systemic barriers to women’s participation in political decision-making.

“Our figures are low, extremely low. We are below 5 per cent when globally, they are almost hitting 26 to 27 per cent,” she said.

She highlighted that the push for reserved seats for women is a critical strategy for addressing this imbalance.

The reserved seats bill aims to create guaranteed positions for women in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies, ensuring women have a direct role in shaping policies that affect their lives and communities.

“It’s the Nigerian women’s way of ensuring that women get to enter into strategic and apex decision-making bodies at the Senate level, House of Representatives, and state assemblies,” she explained.

The bill, proposed in 2025 to amend the 1999 Constitution, has already received support from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and is scheduled for a vote in the National Assembly.

Mrs. Efem-Bassey said women’s groups across the country are mobilising to ensure its passage, stressing the importance of timely legislative action ahead of the 2027 general election.

“It is what is on the front burner, and that’s what Nigerian women are demanding. That’s central to us in this year’s International Women’s Day. Right now, our fingers are crossed, we are positive that it will happen, and women all over Nigeria, women’s groups at local, state, and federal levels, have mobilised,” she said.

She further underlined the historic significance of the initiative, noting that women bring unique perspectives to governance, informed by lived experiences often overlooked in male-dominated spaces.

“For us, this is writing our names in the sands of time; they know where it pinches, what we need, and so when laws are being made around economy, entrepreneurship, business, security, and health, they come from the perspective of being a woman and a lived experience,” Efem-Bassey added.

Earlier this year, women staged a peaceful rally at the National Assembly to accelerate the bill’s progress, urging lawmakers to finalise its passage.

During the rally, gender advocate Ene Obi expressed concern that the bill has yet to pass, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releasing the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

“The poor representation of women in our legislature is a serious democratic deficit,” Obi said. “If the bill is not passed soon, it will be difficult to implement before the next elections, and yet another cycle of exclusion will have occurred.”

Women’s Request for Inclusion, Security and Economic Opportunities

As the world marked International Women’s Day, women across several communities in Abuja called for greater inclusion in leadership, improved economic opportunities, and stronger protection against gender-based violence.

Many women interviewed said more work is needed to achieve gender equality in Nigeria. They urged policymakers, civil society groups, and community leaders to implement policies that promote women’s empowerment and protect their rights.

Some of the women interviewed believed that International Women’s Day is not only a moment to celebrate achievements but also a reminder that the push for equality, safety, and opportunity must continue.

For instance, women in Wuse, Garki, Kubwa, and Nyanya shared their expectations from the government and society.

A trader in Wuse, Ngozi Nwankwo, said women in small businesses need better financial support to grow.

“Many women are hard-working and run small businesses to support their families, but access to loans and grants is very difficult,” she said. “If the government can make funding easier for women, many of us will expand our businesses and employ more people.”

A civil servant, Ms Hauwa Abdullahi, a resident of Garki, emphasised the need for equal opportunities in leadership positions.

Ms Abdullahi said, “Women are qualified and capable, but we are still underrepresented in leadership. We want to see more women in decision-making roles in government and organisations.”

At Kubwa, fashion designer Maryam Sadiq called for stronger action against gender-based violence. She implores the government to look into gender-based violence happening in the country.

“Women should feel safe everywhere-at home, at work, and on the streets. Also, there must be stricter enforcement of laws protecting women from abuse. The government should protect the citizens, especially females, from abuse.” Mrs Sadiq said.

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