Bill seeking more 111 NASS seats for women passes second reading

A Bill seeking additional 111 special seats to be created for women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

This was contained in a statement by the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Bill which is sponsored by the deputy chief whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, when passed into law, will create 37 additional seats in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women.

It added that the Bill also “provides that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the state will be created exclusively for women in each House of Assembly.”

“This Bill is expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only women in the National Assembly and House of Assembly,” the statement read in part.

The minister, therefore, urged women to double up their advocacy efforts to increase the participation of women in governance and decision-making.

“As we await the final reading, we will not rest on our oars in praying for them and we will continue to pray for them. Nigeria Women today stand tall and in solidarity as we send warm felicitations to the 9th National Assembly on this historic milestone recorded in our demand for more political space for women,” she said further via the statement.

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