The Conference of State Youth Parliament Speakers has thrown its full weight behind the Reserved Seats Bill for Women, describing it as a decisive breakthrough for gender-balanced governance in Nigeria.

The COSYPS deputy chairperson, Itunuoluwa Soniregun, said this in a statement on Monday after its leadership session. The conference noted that the Bill represented a historic shift toward fairness, inclusion, and democratic renewal.

The House of Representatives, on July 9, passed for second reading a Constitution Alteration Bill to provide special seats for women in the national and state assemblies.

The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers, proposes the creation of one additional legislative seat to be contested by women only for each State and the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate and House of Representatives, totaling 74 seats.

It further proposes three special seats for women, each at one of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, totaling 108 women-only seats. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action. This bill was first introduced in the Ninth National Assembly.

The COSYPS deputy chairperson stated that the Reserved Seats Bill aimed to address the historical underrepresentation of women in governance.

It aims to promote more inclusive policymaking and enhance gender equality by ensuring women have a guaranteed voice in decision-making.

Ms Soniregun commended Federal lawmakers for prioritising equity in political representation and advancing a governance vision that valued every citizen’s potential, particularly that of young women across the country.

“As young legislators and champions of inclusive democracy, we believe Nigeria thrives when every voice counts. The Reserved Seats Bill empowers women, strengthens institutions, and accelerates national development for generations,” she added.

The COSYPS deputy chairperson noted that youth parliaments nationwide had witnessed the transformative power of women in leadership. She added that, particularly at grassroots levels, female participation had driven innovation, policy impact, and community resilience.

The COSYPS deputy chairperson described the bill as a bold step toward correcting political imbalance and building a modern democracy anchored on equity, justice, and shared progress for all social groups.

(NAN)