2027: Tinubu pledges support for women’s reserved seats bill

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to support the passage of the Women’s Reserved Seats Bill, which seeks to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions.

Mr Tinubu made the commitment on Wednesday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the State House, Abuja, ahead of the 2027 general election.

“You women are the greatest mobilisers, and I assure you of a sponsorship of the Women Reserve Seat Bill,” the president said.

“Go and work for it; it will come to fruition to increase the number of women’s representation at both the National Assembly and subnational level. I assure you that.”

The pledge comes amid concerns over delays in passing the proposed constitutional amendment and the government’s record on women’s inclusion in political appointments.

The campaign council, led by its Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari, is expected to launch its presidential campaign in Kaduna on 24 October.

Women’s reserved seats bill

The Women’s Reserved Seats Bill is a proposed constitutional amendment to address women’s low representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions.

The proposal seeks to create additional legislative seats reserved for women, rather than replace seats held by elected lawmakers.

Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, alongside other lawmakers, the bill has undergone legislative consideration as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

The bill proposes one additional Senate seat for women from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside reserved seats in the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.

Despite repeated assurances about the bill’s progress, its passage has been delayed.

Mr Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, previously said lawmakers would vote on the proposal in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The anticipated vote did not take place within that period, leaving uncertainty over when the constitutional amendment would be concluded.

It is now expected to reach the National Assembly floor for a third reading in October, after which it will be sent to state assemblies and the President for assent.

For the proposal to become law, it must secure the constitutionally required support in the National Assembly and at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before receiving presidential assent.

With the 2027 electoral cycle fully underway and the legislature’s delay in passing the gender bill, Nigerian women may have missed another opportunity to advance their political participation.

Tinubu’s earlier pledge on women’s inclusion

Mr Tinubu’s latest commitment comes more than three years after he promised to increase women’s participation in government during his 2023 presidential campaign.

In his campaign manifesto, Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria, he pledged to allocate at least 35 per cent of government positions to women.

He also proposed legislative measures to increase women’s representation in public institutions.

However, the composition of his administration has remained below the promised target.

Only eight of his 48 ministers are women—just 17 per cent —falling short of the targeted 35 per cent under affirmative action and the National Gender Policy.