By William Attah, Gombe | Oct. 20, 2025. | Oct. 20, 2025
A civil society organisation, Inclusive Access Development (IAD), has stepped up advocacy in Gombe to push for the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill 2025, aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance across Nigeria.
Despite constituting nearly half of the country’s population, women remain largely underrepresented in political and decision-making positions. The IAD said it was determined to change this narrative by mobilizing stakeholders to institutionalize reserved seats for women at all levels.
Speaking during an advocacy workshop, the Executive Director of IAD, Sadiq Yahaya, said the organisation would not relent until the bill is passed, assented to, and implemented. He noted that the model has been successful in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, where women’s participation in governance has significantly improved.
Yahaya said the bill, which has passed its first and second readings at the National Assembly, remains a priority for the group. “We will continue our advocacy, both online and through direct engagement, especially in Northern Nigeria where cultural and religious barriers still hinder women’s political participation,” he said.
A gender inclusion advocate, Zainab Abdulfatah, described the low representation of women in the National and State Assemblies as a major setback for Nigeria’s democracy. She said the bill was key to achieving inclusiveness and strengthening democratic institutions.
“When we start looking at women as capable of driving development, that is a major step forward,” she said, urging traditional, religious and community leaders to support the initiative.
Abdulfatah added that stakeholders must focus on breaking biases rather than dwelling on barriers. “We need to create opportunities and empower women to contest for leadership positions reserved for them,” she said.
Also speaking, Khalid Ahmed Kumo, Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, explained the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He expressed optimism that the Speaker and other lawmakers were committed to ensuring the bill’s success.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1383) proposes 37 additional seats in the Senate, 37 in the House of Representatives, and three in each State Assembly, totalling 108 seats exclusively for women. The seats will be filled through direct elections on separate ballots without affecting existing constituencies.
Participants at the workshop commended IAD’s efforts and pledged to support the campaign for the bill’s smooth passage and implementation.
