By Adeyinka Adeniran
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, has launched a new initiative aimed at engaging Nigerian Citizens at the State and Community levels towards building consensus and aggregating demands on the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill presently being considered by Joint Constitutional Reform Committees of the National Assembly.
With support from the UNWOMEN Nigeria and funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), FIDA said the initiative, launched under the auspices of the Advancing Women’s Inclusion and Representation in Leadership and Political Processes in Nigeria project, will be implemented across nine States of the Federation namely: Anambra, Enugu (South East), Edo (South South), Oyo (South West), Kogi (North Central), Adamawa (North East), Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa (North West).
In a statement issued by the Country Vice President of FIDA, Nigeria, Mrs. Eliana Martins, the group said the initiative aims to drive conversations on inclusivity of gender quota specifically campaigns and advocacy on Reservation of Special Seats for Women at the Nigerian Parliament (Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly); in the constitutional amendment process, working with multi-stakeholders at both the State and Local communities.
She stated that through proper and regular engagements, the stakeholders will unanimously aggregate demands, through a co-creation process, collate inputs which will be reduced into a draft memorandum which will be presented at the public hearings before the relevant National Assembly committees.
Laying credence to the aforementioned statement, the Senior Manager, Programs & Partnerships, FIDA Nigeria emphasized that advocacy is tilted towards enabling a gender responsive legal environment that will witness additional Special Seats for 37 Women in the Nigerian Senate and Federal House of Representatives respectively, totaling 74 and 108 additional seats at the respective State Houses of Assembly.
In a remark, Mr. Fikih Obaro further highlighted the primary goals of the project to include: Strengthening advocacy efforts for the inclusion of exclusive additional special seats for women through strategic partnerships with key state and non-state actors.
“Increasing public awareness and support in advancing women political participation and representation through the constitution amendment process.
“Aggregating demands and advocacy asks through a draft memorandum from citizens towards improving women representation in governance and political process.
“Securing commitments from National and State Houses of Assembly by building a passage for 74 additional exclusive Special Seats for Women at the National Assembly and 108 Seats at the State Houses of Assembly through Constitutional Amendment/Review process”, Obaro added.
Mrs. Martins therefore encouraged the public to support all efforts to advance the representation and participation of women in Nigerian politics.
