The Nigerian Senate will strongly support the bill seeking to create special legislative seats for women, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured a delegation of UK parliamentarian on Monday.
Akpabio made the commitment while hosting members of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in his office.
The delegation, led by Kate Ofunne Osamor, had sought clarification on the Senate’s position regarding the proposed legislation, which aims to increase female representation in the Nigerian Parliament.
The bill, initially introduced in the 9th National Assembly, failed to pass during the Constitution Review process but has been reintroduced in the current 10th Assembly by the House of Representatives. Akpabio expressed confidence that the Senate would now provide the necessary backing for its passage.
“We want to assure you that the bill that you are referring to will be highly supported by us,” Akpabio told the visiting lawmakers before the meeting went into a closed session.
The Senate President also emphasized the importance of strengthening parliamentary ties between Nigeria and the UK, stating that the CPA delegation’s visit would help foster collaboration in governance, trade, and democratic values.
“At the end of this visit, we would have formed a strong CPA UK Parliamentary/Nigeria Cooperation that will outlive us and continue to bring about good governance, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, improving trade and also improving the living standards of our people,” Akpabio added.
In response, Osamor reiterated the UK delegation’s commitment to supporting the bill and learning from Nigeria’s legislative process.
“We really want to learn from you and exchange ideas. If this bill is able to get over the line, we can start to look at other ways we can work together,” she said.
The proposed legislation is expected to spark fresh debates within the Nigerian Parliament, with advocates pushing for increased gender representation in governance.