The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has endorsed a bill in the National Assembly seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide seat reservations for women in the national and state assemblies.

The council, in a communique issued on Sunday in Abuja after its second roundtable, with the theme: “64 years of Independence, Inclusive Democracy and the Options of Special Seats for Women,” also called for the swift passage of the bill into law.

The communique was jointly signed by the council‘s national chairman, Yusuf Dantalle and its national secretary, Maxwell Mgbudem.

IPAC, reaffirming its commitment to promoting inclusive democracy, commended the National Assembly for introducing the Constitution Alteration Bill for Special Seats for Women (HB 1349), sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 others.

The council said special seats should be allocated to women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to address historical underrepresentation.

According to the council, the measure will help increase women’s participation and build momentum for long-term change.

“Accordingly, political parties should make it a matter of policy to implement candidate quotas to ensure that a certain percentage of candidates are women.

“Relevant stakeholders should invest more in building capacity to provide leadership training, financial resources, and networking opportunities to support our female politicians.

“Political parties should ensure policies and programmes are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status,” the council said.

IPAC emphasised the need for temporary special measures to reserve women-only seats, enabling women to compete in a skewed political environment to be implemented.

It also called for deliberate collaborations that would foster dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders, including civil society organisations, government institutions, and all political parties, to promote inclusive democracy to be encouraged.

It also stressed the need for community and faith-based organisations, NGOs, CSOs, and other critical stakeholders to be brought on board to facilitate the achievement of more inclusivity.

The group also emphasised the need for the government to address identified obstacles that hinder women’s participation in politics, such as cultural and social norms, lack of access to education and resources, and violence against.

The body appealed to President Bola Tinubu to increase and reflect the 35 per cent participation of women in his cabinet and governance structure.

It urged all stakeholders to promote inclusive democracy, ensuring Nigeria’s progress toward a more equitable society.

(NAN)