Tinubu to transmit women, PWD reserved-seat bills — Abbas

President Bola Tinubu plans to transmit executive bills to the National Assembly that would reserve seats for women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in federal and state legislatures, according to House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas. The initiative aims to provide additional seats beyond the current elective positions, marking a significant inclusivity effort during the 10th National Assembly term.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Abbas announced that the legislation for reserved seats for women has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for refinement, while an executive bill for PWDs is expected to follow within weeks. He highlighted that the 10th Assembly has introduced innovations, with the current focus on promoting women's inclusivity, securing President Tinubu's support for sponsoring executive bills for these provisions.

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill aims to create 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with one seat per state and an additional seat for the Federal Capital Territory. Each of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses would also receive three extra seats reserved for women. Similarly, the PWDs bill proposes one additional member from each of the six geopolitical zones in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Abbas emphasized the successful collaboration between the bicameral legislature, stating that the National Assembly operates seamlessly while still collaborating when necessary. Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management CEO and speaker of the event, Prof Justin Green, commended the Speaker's efforts, praising the tangible achievements for greater representation of women and PWDs in Nigerian politics.