The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated the legislature’s commitment to gender equality, revealing that the 2025 Appropriations Bill would prioritise the needs of women and girls, reflecting their critical role in national development.
According to him, the “inclusion of women in governance is both a democratic necessity and a moral imperative.”
Abbas made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the Citizens Summit on Gender-Responsive Constitutional Reform and Ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against Women and Girls, organized by UN Women Nigeria in collaboration with the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Women in Politics Forum (WiPF), Kimpact Development Forum (KDI), Ford Foundation, UK International Development, among others.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, he called for decisive actions to improve women’s rights, inclusion, and safety in Nigeria.
“Today begins a crucial chapter in our pursuit of inclusive governance and justice. Under my leadership, we will advance constitutional reforms that address our nation’s needs while ensuring the empowerment, safety, and participation of women and girls.”
“Democracy is not the prison of the few, but belongs to everyone. Women are the ones who create humanity, what is human rights without women’s rights?” he stated.
Kalu reflected on the constitutional amendment process, citing global precedents to underscore its importance.
He assured that the 10th House of Representatives, under his leadership, would prioritise early action on constitutional amendments.
“The Nigerian Constitution was never intended to be a perfect document. Like the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended 27 times, ours must evolve to address our unique challenges,” he said.
“By starting this process well ahead of election cycles, we ensure thoughtful deliberation and robust public engagement,” he explained.
He celebrated past milestones such as the “Not Too Young to Run” amendment, which lowered the age threshold for elective offices, and pledged continued reforms, noting that the summit is a significant milestone in a larger campaign to increase women’s participation in governance and end violence against women and girls.
“We are committed to removing systemic barriers and enacting laws to combat gender-based violence,” he assured.
The Deputy Speaker further drew attention to Rwanda and South Africa, where advocacy coalitions have led to transformative gender policies, stressing the importance of collective efforts to achieve the desired results.
“Rwanda’s deliberate policies have resulted in women holding the majority of parliamentary seats. In South Africa, civil society’s engagement has driven progress toward gender equality,” he noted.
“Success depends on our shared responsibility. As public officials, business leaders, and citizens, we must each take ownership of these campaigns,” Kalu urged.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, linked gender inequality to Nigeria’s economic performance, noting the high costs of GBV and stressing that greater representation of women in leadership positions leads to better governance and stronger economic outcomes.
