NAWOJ pushes for Special Seats Bill in Adamawa
Women Journalists in Adamawa Call for Passage of Special Seats Bill
Members of the Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) gathered on Monday at the NUJ Press Centre in Yola to advocate for the immediate passage of the Special Seats Bill. They view this legislation as a vital step toward achieving gender equity in Nigeria’s political framework.
During the rally, participants displayed placards with slogans such as “Adamawa Women Say Yes to Special Seats Bill” and “4% Women in Leadership Not Enough.”
Felicia Dauda, the Chairperson of NAWOJ in Adamawa, highlighted the stark underrepresentation of women in government. She noted that in the 10th National Assembly, only 21 of the 469 members are women, accounting for a mere 4.2 percent. The Senate comprises just four women out of 109 members, while the House of Representatives includes 17 female members among 360.
At the state level, Dauda pointed out that only one woman holds a seat in the 25-member House of Assembly, with 13 of Nigeria’s 36 states having no female lawmakers at all. “Adamawa’s federal representation reflects the same unacceptable trend, with all three senators and eight House of Representatives members being men,” she remarked. Despite women comprising nearly half of Nigeria’s population of 220 million, Dauda stated, they remain largely excluded from key decision-making processes.
She characterized the marginalization of women as not merely a gender issue, but rather a governance crisis that adversely affects policy-making, democracy, and national development. Dauda urged members of Adamawa’s National Assembly and the State House of Assembly to endorse and ratify the Special Seats Bill.
Support for the initiative extended beyond NAWOJ. Habiba Bakari, President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Adamawa Chapter, emphasized that increased female representation could help address maternal and child healthcare challenges. Additionally, Rebecca Kwabe, chairperson of the National Council of Women Society in Adamawa, affirmed that it is time for women to be given opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
