NAWA-ORG Urges Passage of Reserved Seats Bill to Boost Women’s Representation in Parliament

By Hannah Williams

The Director-General of the National APC Women Advocacy Organization (NAWA-ORG), Dr. Amina Kundiri, has called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill to ensure greater inclusion of women in governance and address long-standing gender disparities in political representation.

Speaking at a roundtable dialogue held in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Kundiri said that enacting the Bill into law would not only increase the number of women in parliament but also promote equity, fairness, and justice in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“If passed into law, the Reserved Seats Bill will bridge the gender gap and amplify women’s voices in governance,” she stated, reaffirming NAWA-ORG’s commitment to championing women’s empowerment and inclusiveness at all levels.

Dr. Kundiri lauded the APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for their sustained support toward advancing the nation’s gender agenda, pledging NAWA-ORG’s continued partnership in driving national development.

In his remarks, the President of the Coalition of Northern Youth and Women Initiative for Good Governance, Attahiru Ibrahim echoed the need for stronger representation of women and youth in decision-making spaces, emphasizing that these groups have long been marginalized in national affairs.

Similarly, the group’s Secretary General, Dr. Hadiza Jamilu, cautioned Nigerian youths against being used as political thugs and urged them to steer clear of drug abuse, while advocating for positive civic engagement.

Also speaking, Ms. Evelyn Onyilo, National Publicity Secretary of NAWA-ORG, charged women to rise above the challenges of marginalization and actively participate in politics. She further called on the government to appoint more women and youth into positions of governance as a practical step toward inclusion.

The event underscored a growing call from stakeholders for gender equity in governance as Nigeria looks to strengthen democratic participation and inclusive leadership.