A coalition of women groups in Ikeja Constituency, on Wednesday, called for passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill.

The women were led by Mrs Bola Faola, a women leader in the All Progressives Congress in Ikeja Constituency.

Faola made the call during presentation of a petition at the constituency office of Mr James Falekethe who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

She urged members of the National Assembly to support enactment of laws aimed at improving women representation in governance.

The petition, according to her, is part of a coordinated nationwide advocacy by different women organisations in Nigeria to press for passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill by the House of Representatives.

Faola said that women from different groups across the country had deemed it necessary to unite in support of the proposed legislation.

She said the petition had been submitted to members of the House of Representatives as part of efforts to strengthen women participation in leadership and decision-making.

“We have different women groups across Nigeria and we deemed it fit to come together to present our petition concerning the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill.

“This petition is being presented across Nigeria to members of the House of Representatives because we believe it is time for women to have stronger representation in governance and lawmaking,” she said.

Faola described lawmakers’ constituency offices as strategic platforms for engaging elected representatives on issues affecting women.

She said the bill, if passed into law, would provide greater opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to national development through elective positions.

According to her, the demand for special seats is not about favouritism but about correcting long-standing imbalance in political representation.

“Women play vital roles in the family, the economy and the society; yet, their representation in politics remains low.

“The Special Seats for Women Bill is a necessary step toward inclusiveness, fairness and balanced representation in our democracy,” she said.

Faola urged lawmakers to give the bill favourable consideration, saying that more women in legislative positions would enrich policy formulation and deepen democratic governance.

She also called on women across the country to be united and consistent in advocating reforms that would guarantee their rightful place in leadership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill proposes creation of one additional legislative seat to be contested for by women only, for each state and the Federal Capital Territory, in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The bill seeks creation of additional 74 seats in the National Assembly, comprising 37 seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives.

It also proposes three special seats for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.