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Tallen hails bills seeking to create 111 special seats for women in NASS

By Tina Abeku, Abuja
01 May 2021   |   7:04 pm
The minister of women's affairs, Pauline Tallen, has hailed efforts by members of the National Assembly to create one hundred and eleven, (111), additional special seats for women in the political arena, saying it is a step in the right direction.  Tallen said the bill sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, which has…

The minister of women’s affairs, Pauline Tallen, has hailed efforts by members of the National Assembly to create one hundred and eleven, (111), additional special seats for women in the political arena, saying it is a step in the right direction. 

Tallen said the bill sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, which has passed first reading, will provide 37 additional in the Senates and 74 in the House of Representatives for women when passed into law.

In a statement she signed, the minister noted that the 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 the States Houses of Assembly.

She said the bill provides that one additional seat from each of the three senatorial districts in the States would be exclusively for women.

“The year 2021 represents a great milestone in our  advocacy for increasing the participation of women in governance and decision making as a Bill that seeks to create 111 additional ‘Special Seats for Women’ in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

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.

I want to on behalf of Nigerian Women to salute the leadership of the 9th National Assembly, especially the Senate led by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the House of Representatives Led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,” she said.

According to the minister, “As a temporary measure to promote women’s representation, the Bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure.

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.”

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