NCWS President Makes Clarion Call for Passage of Special Seat Bill at House of Reps Open Week

The National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria, Princess Edna D. D. Azura, has passionately advocated for the urgent passage of the Special Seat Bill for Women during an interactive dialogue session at the ongoing Open Week of the House of Representatives, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The session, which brought together lawmakers, civil society actors, gender advocates, and various stakeholders, provided a platform to deliberate on the future of the bill that seeks to create reserved legislative seats for women at both the federal and state levels.

In her heartfelt address, Princess Azura called on the National Assembly to act with courage and commitment, urging legislators to support the bill as a matter of national urgency and global responsibility. She lamented Nigeria’s low global standing on female inclusivity across all sectors, noting that the country currently ranks 27 percent, with only two or three countries behind it globally.

“This time around, we are speaking with one voice. We are lobbying, we are pleading. please pass this bill. Nigeria cannot continue to be seen globally as a nation that signs protocols and agreements only to abandon them at home,” she said.

“This time around, we are speaking with one voice. We are lobbying, we are pleading. please pass this bill. Nigeria cannot continue to be seen globally as a nation that signs protocols and agreements only to abandon them at home,” she said.

Referring to various international frameworks and treaties Nigeria has endorsed, including the Maputo Protocol and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Azura warned that the country risks losing credibility in the eyes of the global community if it fails to implement its commitments.

“We’ve signed several protocols to align with global efforts to promote women’s inclusion. Yet, back home, we do the opposite. Let’s not reduce governance to a game of meaningless politics. When we say we’ll do something, let’s do it,” she emphasised.

Azura pointed out that Nigeria has enacted several progressive laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Universal Basic Education Act, yet implementation remains weak, especially in advancing women’s rights and full inclusion.

Tracing the roots of gender exclusion to Nigeria’s post-1999 constitutional development, she noted that women were largely left out of the military, dominated political transition, and this cultural imbalance has persisted, despite increasing levels of education and capacity among Nigerian women.

“We’ve seen what women like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Amina Mohammed have achieved when given the opportunity. Why then are we resisting capable women? We are your mothers and your sisters. When we go outside this country, we are laughed at, like Nigeria does not recognise its women,” she added emotionally.

The NCWS President called on male lawmakers to see this as a national responsibility, not merely a woman’s concern. “We’re calling on our fathers and brothers. Please pass this bill. It is about inclusivity, good governance, and international credibility,” she stated.

Azura also urged Nigerian women across all backgrounds to unite in solidarity. “Whether you belong to an organisation or not, as a woman, it is time to come together with one voice. Let us mentor the younger generation and ensure this bill becomes law.”

Her passionate intervention was met with applause and strong support from stakeholders present, adding momentum to the growing demand for legislative reform that guarantees women a fair place in leadership and decision-making processes.

The House of Representatives Open Week continues with more sessions focused on transparency, public engagement, and inclusive policy development.

NCWS Nig”This time around, we are speaking with one voice. We are lobbying, we are pleading. please pass this bill. Nigeria cannot continue to be seen globally as a nation that signs protocols and agreements only to abandon them at home,” she said.

Referring to various international frameworks and treaties Nigeria has endorsed, including the Maputo Protocol and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Azura warned that the country risks losing credibility in the eyes of the global community if it fails to implement its commitments.

“We’ve signed several protocols to align with global efforts to promote women’s inclusion. Yet, back home, we do the opposite. Let’s not reduce governance to a game of meaningless politics. When we say we’ll do something, let’s do it,” she emphasised.

Azura pointed out that Nigeria has enacted several progressive laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Universal Basic Education Act, yet implementation remains weak, especially in advancing women’s rights and full inclusion.

Tracing the roots of gender exclusion to Nigeria’s post-1999 constitutional development, she noted that women were largely left out of the military, dominated political transition, and this cultural imbalance has persisted, despite increasing levels of education and capacity among Nigerian women.

“We’ve seen what women like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Amina Mohammed have achieved when given the opportunity. Why then are we resisting capable women? We are your mothers and your sisters. When we go outside this country, we are laughed at, like Nigeria does not recognise its women,” she added emotionally.

The NCWS President called on male lawmakers to see this as a national responsibility, not merely a woman’s concern. “We’re calling on our fathers and brothers. Please pass this bill. It is about inclusivity, good governance, and international credibility,” she stated.

Azura also urged Nigerian women across all backgrounds to unite in solidarity. “Whether you belong to an organisation or not, as a woman, it is time to come together with one voice. Let us mentor the younger generation and ensure this bill becomes law.”

Her passionate intervention was met with applause and strong support from stakeholders present, adding momentum to the growing demand for legislative reform that guarantees women a fair place in leadership and decision-making processes.

The House of Representatives Open Week continues with more sessions focused on transparency, public engagement, and inclusive policy development.

NCWS Nigeria