Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has called for public support on reserved seats and the independence candidacy bill. The non-profit organisation made the call at its September Webinar in partnership with ElectHER, with the theme, “Unlocking Socio-Economic Gains: The Case for Reserved Seats and Independent Candidacy Bill.”
The engaging session, moderated by Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director of WIMBIZ, featured the lead sponsors of the Bills—Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Hon. Akin Rotimi, Chairman, House Committee on Media & Public Affairs. Both legislators shed light on the purpose, expected impact, and progress of the Bills, highlighting their potential to transform Nigeria’s democratic and governance landscape.
According to Hon. Kalu, the cost of excluding women in governance is far greater than the cost of including them, noting that if women when women are absent from administrative chambers, issues vital to national development, such as healthcare, education, and socio-welfare, are often neglected, thereby increasing the circles of poverty.
On his part, Hon. Rotimi said every citizen should have an equal opportunity to be voted for without any affiliation to any political party, as it fosters growth and development within the nation and also cuts out the limitations women would have experienced within the political party system.
In her closing remarks, Ibijoke Faborode, CEO of ElectHER, charged participants to actively engage in the process: “It’s not only about running for office; it’s about every citizen holding leaders accountable and pushing for a system that reflects all voices.”
In the same vein, Omowunmi noted that these 2 bills will aid accountability and also give hope to everyone that their voices and opinions can be heard.
Reserved Seats for Women Bill – Proposes the creation of 37 new Senate seats (one per state and the FCT) and 37 new House of Representatives seats exclusively for women. This would significantly boost female representation in governance.
Independent Candidacy Bill – Seeks to allow qualified individuals to contest elections without political party affiliation, provided they meet set requirements (such as education and age) and secure signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in their constituencies.
These Bills are still open for public input, offering Nigerians a rare opportunity to directly shape the nation’s democratic future.