Osun NAWOJ urges passage of Special Seats Bill in NASS
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Osun State chapter, has urged stakeholders across the country to support the immediate passage of the Special Seats Bill (HB1349) currently before the National Assembly.
The call follows the Nigeria Women Solidarity March held at the National Assembly, Abuja, where NAWOJ members joined other women’s advocacy groups to press for legislative measures aimed at improving women’s representation in governance.
In a statement jointly signed by the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson, Abisola Ariwodola, and the Secretary, Oluwaranti Ojewumi, the association said Nigeria’s democracy could not be described as fully representative while women remained underrepresented in elective and appointive offices.
The statement noted that women constitute nearly half of the country’s population but continue to face barriers that limit their political participation and access to leadership roles.
“Over the years, despite proven competence and leadership capacity across sectors, women have continued to face structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that restrict their political participation,” the association stated.
NAWOJ explained that the Special Seats Bill (HB1349) seeks to introduce a constitutional provision creating additional legislative seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
According to the association, the proposed measure is intended as a corrective mechanism to address historical exclusion rather than as a privilege.
“Women’s representation is not merely symbolic, it is also transformative,” the statement read.
The body added that inclusive governance contributes to broader social protection frameworks, improved education and healthcare systems, and stronger community development initiatives.
“For decades, women have been marginalised within political party structures, electoral processes and governance. The Special Seats Bill provides a practical pathway to bridge the representation gap and institutionalise gender inclusion,” NAWOJ stated.
The association said that expanding access to political office for women would reinforce democratic values of fairness, equity and equal opportunity.
It called on members of the National Assembly representing Osun State to vote in favour of the bill and urged the Osun State House of Assembly to domesticate it when passed, describing women’s political inclusion as a national development issue.
NAWOJ reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the passage of the Special Seats Bill (HB1349).
“We urge all stakeholders to act with urgency, seriousness and patriotism,” the statement concluded.
