Baba Azimi Foundation present memorandum supporting reserved Seats for women bill at senate zonal public hearing in Kano

By Ali Rabi'u Ali Jigawa

Baba Azimi Foundation (Baf) in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) have presented memorandum seeking the creation of additional special  seats reserved for women in the National and State Assemblies.

The proposal was presented on Saturday at the North West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, organised by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution holding in Kano.

Presenting the memorandum under BAF Girl-led Action Project funded by ActionAid Nigeria, Firdausi Yusuf, a Girl Researcher and Advocate, said the initiative is aimed at empowering girls, giving them a voice to shape their narratives on issues that are of concern to them and advocating actions to address them. A component of that is advocacy to address the chronic underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s elective offices, despite women accounting for nearly half of the country’s population.

Yusuf said the Reserved Seat Bill is not just symbolic, but a strategic reform necessary to deepen Nigeria’s democratic inclusivity and strengthen governance.

She called on the lawmakers to ensure the bill is not only passed but fully implemented.

“We are calling on the government to accept, pass, and follow through on the special reserved seats for women. This bill is key to fostering women’s full participation in politics and governance," she said.

Firdausi also called for broader electoral reforms, including  the appointment of its leadership to consider women.

“The implementation of the bill will usher in women leaders that will fight for things that matter to girls like safer schools, increased resources, opportunities for education and create policies that put girls first." she added.

Fatima; another girl researcher and advocate who attended the public hearing added that "We are supporting women and raising our voices today so that women can raise our issues tomorrow." 

When asked why they were supporting the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, Khadija; another girl researcher and advocate stated that, " When we fight for women to be seen today, we are making spaces for girls to dream tomorrow."