…Stakeholders leverage 16 Days of Activism to intensify demand for women’s political inclusion

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Momentum is growing across Kaduna State as government officials, women leaders, and civil society groups renew strong calls for the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill.

Stakeholders insist that the National Assembly must match its promises with concrete legislative action before the crucial December 9 vote.

The call dominated discussions at the 1st Kaduna State Parliamentary Stakeholders Power Table, a high-level forum convened to mobilise nationwide support for the bill. The proposed legislation seeks to reserve 37 National Assembly seats and three seats per state in the Houses of Assembly exclusively for women.

Speaking at the event, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. James Kanyip, urged women to leverage their numbers and organisational strength to secure meaningful political influence.

Describing women as “the forefront of honesty in politics,” he lamented their continued marginalisation when political power and benefits are shared.

Kanyip emphasized that women must no longer remain passive in the political process.

“Power is never handed over. It must be taken through organisation, solidarity, and consistent mobilisation,” he said.

He identified economic constraints, weak political coordination, and limited engagement after elections as persistent barriers to women’s political representation. Citing Kaduna as an example, he noted that only one woman currently sits in the State House of Assembly—an outcome he attributed more to government support than coordinated women-led mobilisation.

Kanyip stressed that even with enabling legislation, meaningful change requires women to assert themselves within political structures.

Earlier, the convener of the forum, Hon. Dr. Nita Byack George, described the gathering as part of a broader strategy to ensure the bill’s passage, calling it a milestone for inclusive governance.

She applauded Kaduna State for its progressive reforms, including establishing a Gender Desk at the Kaduna Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA) and Governor Uba Sani’s approval of a policy prioritising women in procurement and supply chains.

“As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, this conversation goes beyond policy. It is a call to build a Kaduna where women and men live side by side in dignity, safety, and equal opportunity,” she said.

Civil society representatives reinforced these views, citing global evidence that increased women’s political participation strengthens governance and improves responses to gender-based violence.

Barr. Julie Ariahu, Chairperson of the League of Women Voters, Kaduna State Chapter, said women’s underrepresentation is the result of structural barriers—not a lack of competence.

“The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is a practical solution to ensure women’s voices are present where laws are made, where budgets are shaped, and where priorities are set,” she said.

Ariahu added that empowering women politically remains one of the most effective tools for tackling gender-based violence.

“As we observe these 16 Days of Activism, let us move from good intentions to transformative action,” she urged, calling on legislators, community leaders, and development partners to support the bill.

The event, themed “Advancing Women’s Political Representation Through Legislative Action,” was organised by the Administrator and partners, in collaboration with key stakeholders, as part of Parliamentary Action for Women commemorations.