NILDS Hosts African Union Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights, Advocates Increased Women’s Representation in Governance

NILDS Hosts African Union Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights, Advocates Increased Women’s Representation in Governance

National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women’s participation in governance and decision-making, calling for increased legislative support for the proposed Special Seats for Women Constitutional Amendment Bill.

The Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman stated this during an advocacy meeting with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, Hon. Janet Sallah-Njie Ramatoulie, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the Institute’s headquarters in Abuja.

Professor Sulaiman highlighted the establishment of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Unit under his office as part of the Institute’s efforts to promote gender inclusion. He stressed that women’s participation should extend beyond voting to leadership positions, party structures, elective offices, and decision-making platforms. He also expressed optimism over renewed executive support for the proposed Special Seats Bill.

Earlier, the Executive Director of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami noted that women occupy less than 5% of seats in the National Assembly, attributing the low representation to structural and cultural barriers rather than a lack of capacity. She cited Article 9 of the Maputo Protocol, ratified by Nigeria in 2004, which calls for affirmative measures to ensure women’s equal participation in political and decision-making processes. She urged stakeholders to sustain advocacy for the passage of the bill, which proposes additional seats for women without displacing existing lawmakers.

The Permanent Secretary, Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Protocol of the National Assembly, Dr. Fortune Ihua Maduenyi, representing the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana disclosed that the proposed bill seeks to create 74 additional seats: 37 each for the Senate and House of Representatives, three for each State House of Assembly, and one for the Federal Capital Territory. She explained that the proposal still requires constitutional procedures, including approval by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

In her remarks, Hon. Ramatoulie urged Nigeria to move beyond ratifying international agreements to their effective domestication and implementation. She described reserved seats as a temporary special measure under Article 9 of the Maputo Protocol to address historical inequalities and promote substantive equality in political representation.

The Special Rapporteur called on the National Assembly to prioritise the proposed constitutional amendment, strengthen oversight of women’s rights commitments, and ensure accountability in budgetary allocations and implementation. She also advocated Nigeria’s accelerated ratification of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, alongside stronger regional cooperation among parliamentarians, civil society organisations and relevant institutions.

She further maintained that women’s political participation was not contrary to African culture and tradition, noting their historical roles in leadership and economic activities across African societies. She urged Nigeria to demonstrate regional leadership by translating its gender equality commitments into enforceable laws and measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls.

In his response, Professor Sulaiman assured the delegation of NILDS’ continued support for women’s rights advocacy and efforts to strengthen women’s representation in governance.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, the National Assembly, BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, and other civil society organisations.