Governors Back ‘Reserved Seats For Women Bill’ Ahead Of November Vote

CHIDI UGWU

The 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Friday unanimously resolved to actively support the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349).

The bill is set for voting in the National Assembly between November 4 and 6, 2025.

The resolution was announced by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read a communiqué on behalf of NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by creating special constituencies reserved exclusively for women in both the National and State Assemblies.

The measure is designed as a temporary but crucial strategy to improve female political representation in Nigeria.

Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized the Forum’s commitment, urging all governors to mobilize lawmakers at the federal and state levels in favor of the bill, underscoring its importance for advancing equity and inclusive governance.

“The Forum noted that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349) will be voted on between November 4-6, 2025. The Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies exclusively contested by women in the National and State Assemblies as a temporary measure to enhance gender representation. Governors were urged to engage their Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and State Assemblies to support the Bill’s passage and affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity and inclusive governance”.

Beyond the bill, the Forum also received key briefings on economic and security matters. Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, updated the governors on efforts to stabilize the economy.

Highlighted initiatives include tightened monetary policy, unification of exchange rate windows, and bank recapitalization aimed at reducing inflation and boosting liquidity.

The governors praised the coordinated efforts between the CBN and fiscal authorities and stressed the importance of sustained collaboration to foster economic growth and fiscal stability in the states.

Security briefings by Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), focused on rising threats such as violent extremism, communal conflicts, and challenges linked to economic and political transitions.

The governors welcomed the DSS’s intelligence-led strategy to enhance subnational coordination and committed to deepening intelligence sharing with federal agencies to strengthen national peace and security.