A bill seeking to increase women representation in the National Assembly, on Tuesday, passed a second reading in the House of Representatives.
The move was aimed at encouraging more female participation in politics.
Sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, and 12 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the constitution to create one “special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory FCT”.
The lawmakers were on Tuesday divided on the bill.
While some wholly supported it, others called for critical observation, as they drew attention to the provision of the constitution that warned against making discriminatory laws.
The bill had failed in the constitution amendment process of the 9th assembly when It was voted against by parliament.
Leading the debate, Joshua Gana, co-sponsor of the bill, said the proposed legislation is aimed at addressing a “profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the national assembly and at sub-national levels”.
The bill proposes to alter Section 91 of the constitution to provide for three special seats “reserved exclusively” for women in houses of assembly of each state of the federation.
It is set to take effect after the term of the current national assembly elapses, and is subject to review every 16 years.
