FIDA Nigeria Urges National Assembly to Pass Special Seats for Women Bill (HB1349) Ahead of 2027 Elections

FIDA Nigeria Urges National Assembly to Pass Special Seats for Women Bill (HB1349) Ahead of 2027 Elections

Abuja, Nigeria — The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called on the National Assembly to urgently fix a voting date and pass the Special Seats for Women Bill (HB1349), describing the continued underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legislative chambers as a major democratic deficit.

FIDA Nigeria is mobilising nationwide support alongside Nigerian women, women’s groups, civil society organisations, and gender champions to build strong public pressure for the Bill, which is among the 44 Constitution Alteration Bills currently under consideration in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Speaking on the matter, the Country Vice President/National President of FIDA Nigeria, Mrs. Eliana Martins, emphasised that inclusive governance is not a favour to women, but a constitutional and developmental necessity.

“No democracy can be called representative when women remain spectators in lawmaking. Women are not asking for favours — they are demanding fairness,” she stated.

Mrs. Martins noted that the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill offers a practical and long-term solution to Nigeria’s persistently low number of women in legislative decision-making.

She explained that the Bill will significantly improve women’s representation by providing:

6 additional seats in the Senate,

74 additional seats at the National Assembly level, and

108 additional seats across State Houses of Assembly.

According to her, these measures will strengthen inclusive governance and ensure that national policies reflect the realities, needs, and aspirations of all Nigerians — not just a fraction of the population.

Mrs. Martins therefore urged Nigerian women, women’s rights groups, civil society, and well-meaning Nigerians to intensify advocacy and demand the immediate passage of the Bill.

She also called on lawmakers to act without delay, warning that failure to pass the Bill early could undermine timely implementation ahead of the 2027 general election.

FIDA Nigeria reaffirms that Nigeria cannot keep building democracy with one hand tied behind its back. The time for symbolic support is over — the time for legislative action is now.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless FIDA Nigeria.

Eliana Martins (Mrs.)
Country Vice President / National President
FIDA Nigeria