Special parliamentary seats for women’ll unlock national prosperity – Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has again, made case for the passage of the Seat Reservation for Women Bill (HB1349), emphasising it is about justice, strategy, and national prosperity.

Speaking at a workshop on public presentation of the national women leaders forum’s operational guidelines and the roles of political parties in the passage of the bill in Abuja on Monday, Kalu highlighted the alarming fact of 13 States in Nigeria not having any female lawmakers, lamenting that at the national level, women make up only 3.6% of the Senate and 4.7% of the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Kalu himself, the proposed bill seeks to reserve seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assemblies, aiming to dismantle systemic barriers and create a legislature that mirrors the diversity of the nation.

“Democracy thrives not merely through elections, but through inclusion. When half of our population remains underrepresented in halls of power, our democracy is not just weakened—it is incomplete. Today, 15 states in Nigeria have zero elected women in their assemblies.

“The Seat Reservation for Women Bill (HB1349), which I proudly sponsor,
seeks to alter this narrative. By reserving seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create a legislature that mirrors the diversity of our nation. This is not about charity—it is about justice, strategy, and national prosperity.