The National Council for Women’s Societies (NCWS), Kaduna State Chapter, has called on the House of Representatives to expedite the passage of the bill on reserved seats for women in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.
The State President of NCWS, Barrister Zainab Hassan, speaking while on a visit to the lawmaker representing Kaduna North, Hon Bello Elrufai, said the group formally presented a petition urging immediate legislative action on the bill.
Barrister Zainab who led other women group in kaduna, stressed that the demand for reserved seats reflects the growing insistence of Nigerian women on inclusive governance and equitable representation in decision-making processes.
“We are here to submit our petition concerning the reserved seats for women, which is yet to be passed. We want Honourable Bello El-Rufai to facilitate the passage of the bill,” she said.
She noted that women remain a critical voting bloc in Nigeria, consistently turning out during elections regardless of prevailing conditions.
“Come rain or shine, women always come out to vote. We are the voters in Nigeria. You will see women, even with their children, waiting patiently to vote for candidates of their choice.”
Barrister Zainab emphasised that the petition underscores a shift in advocacy by women, from appeals to firm demands for inclusion.
“This petition carries significant weight because women are no longer begging. We are urging lawmakers to pass the bill immediately so that women can be fully included in lawmaking in Nigeria,” she stated.
She further revealed that the rally and petition submission are part of a coordinated nationwide action taking place across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), demonstrating the seriousness and unity behind the movement.
According to her, the widespread mobilisation highlights the urgency of addressing gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political space and ensuring that women have a stronger voice in governance.
