By: Ahmed Rufa’i
Jigawa State First Lady, Dr. Amina Umar Namadi, has called for the accelerated processing and actualisation of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, describing it as a critical step toward expanding women’s participation in elective and appointe offices across all tiers of government.
This was contained in a press statement issued, signed and made to TRUTHS FINDER by her media aide, Mrs. Aisha Ilyasu Sirko in Dutse, Jigawa State Capital said the wife to the made the call in her address at the North West Sensitisation Programme on Advocacy for the Passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill in Kaduna.
According to the statement, Dr. Namadi stressed the need for sustained and collective action to ensure the passage of the bill, which she said would strengthen women’s representation in leadership and decision-making, while advancing inclusive governance and national development.
She noted that the advocacy programme brought together political leaders, women advocates, policymakers and other stakeholders from across the North West to mobilise support for constitutional reforms aimed at enhancing women’s political inclusion.
“Dr. Amina Umar Namadi emphasised that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill represents more than a legislative proposal; it reflects the collective aspirations of Nigerian women for equity, inclusion and meaningful participation in governance,” the statement read.
The First Lady maintained that women’s voices must not only be heard but also positioned to influence policies that shape communities and the nation at large.
She further underscored the importance of solidarity among women across the region, noting that the strong participation of women representatives from Jigawa State at the programme demonstrated the state’s commitment to advancing women’s political inclusion and leadership development.
Dr. Namadi urged women leaders and stakeholders to mobilise their networks, engage grassroots communities and sustain momentum in support of the bill, adding that meaningful progress could only be achieved through unity, resilience and collective responsibility.
She commended the organisers and participants for their unwavering dedication to the cause of women’s inclusion, reaffirming that sustained advocacy and collaboration would help build a more inclusive future one in which women are not merely participants in governance, but leaders driving societal transformation.
The programme, themed “North West Women Rising: Advocating for Our Constitutional Space in Leadership,” marked another milestone in the ongoing push for constitutional backing for women’s representation, with growing optimism that coordinated regional advocacy would yield positive legislative outcomes.
The proposed bill seeks the creation of additional seats exclusively for women in both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Specifically, it calls for 37 new Senate seats one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory and 37 additional seats in the House of Representatives.
