Reserved Seat Bill: WACOL Holds   Advocacy, Town-hall Meeting In Ebonyi  

*Calls for stakeholders support

By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki

Following the ongoing agitation and clamour for a “Reserved Seat Bill” for women in both states  and National Assembly in Nigeria, a non governmental organization popularly known as Women’s Aids Collective (WACOL) in partnership with UN Women with funding support from the government of Canada, has taken the Advocacy/ Town-hall meeting to Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone of Ebonyi State to intimate stakeholders on the importance of the  Reserved Seat Bill and also gain their support ahead of the  South East Zonal Public Hearing in Enugu State, slated for  July 4 5, 2025.

The town-hall meeting which was held at Astro De Best Hotels and Suites, Okposi, was well attended by selected stakeholders from Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, including traditional rulers, members of the clergy, political office holders, UN women representatives, among other critical stakeholders.

In her welcome address, the chairperson of the WPP-WG, Mrs. Stella Okechukwu Kalu stated that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss, adopt and endorse a memorandum in support of “Reserved Seat Bill”, explaining that the bill seeks to amend the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the reservation of seats for women at the National and states assembly.

According her, the bill seeks to checkmate the low representation of women in legislature by providing special constituency to be contested and filled by women as a temporary measure to promote women political representation.

She enjoined all the participants to join the campaign and support the Reserved Seat Bill  to encourage women participation in politics.

Also in her presentation, titled,  “Constitution Review Process and Special Seats Bill: Taking Action for Inclusive Governance”, the resource person, Mrs. Nnenna Igwe further stated that the bill proposes for a special seat at the Senate is to amend section 48 of the constitution, saying that the current composition of the senate is three senators from each senatorial zone, but the bill seeks amendment to accommodate one additional Senate seat per state and one for FCT, making it 37 new seats to be contested and filled by women.

For House of Representatives, he Bill seeks  additional seats for women, one from each state and one from FCT, making it a total of additional 37 seats just like the Senate.

While for states houses of assembly, one additional seat reserved for women; one from each senatorial district.

While in House of Representatives, the bill proposes for the amendment of section 49 of the 1999 Constitution, which currently has 360 members in order to have one woman only seat per geopolitical zone; six special seats in the House of Representatives, making the number a total of 366, adding that similar amendments shall be done in state houses of Assembly across the country to amplify women’s voices.

As part of the programme of event to endorse the campaign, there was panel discussion, presided over by  Barr. Helen Kalu where Women’s Rights Movement, political party’s representatives, CSOs, traditional leader, and religious leaders all declared overwhelming support for the reserved seat bill.

In their separate goodwill messages, the traditional rulers from Ohaozara, Ivo and Afikpo extraction, including, HRH Eze Cosmos Nnaemeka Agwu, all appreciated WACOL for their doggedness, commitment and dedication to the actualization of the special seats for women in politics, declaring their full support for the reserved seat for women in both state and National Assembly.

Chief Agwu further noted that, as a traditional ruler of Okposi, he has given women sense of belonging in diverse ways, including Chieftaincy titles, settlement of family disputes, ensuring equitable inheritance of property from their father’s house, prohibiting female genital mutilation, among others,  to ensure women’s rights are not abused.

On his part, one of the representatives of Christian Religious leaders, Rev.T.A. Ijem also expressed support for the reserved seat, saying that God in His wisdom, has used many women in the Bible to make indelible impact in their time, citing women like Esther, Deborah, Ruth, among others, who contributed significantly to better the lives of their people.

Also, the UN women representative to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong enjoined all stakeholders at the event to take the advocacy down to their people to create more awareness and garner massive support for the reserved seat.

The town-hall meeting  featured goodwill messages from critical stakeholders, panel discussion, questions and answers section, among others.

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