By Prosper Mene
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has thrown his weight behind the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, championing the initiative to boost women’s representation in Nigerian politics amid persistently low female participation in legislative roles.
The governor is actively supporting the bill, which proposes constitutional amendments to create additional seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. Specifically, the legislation seeks to add one reserved seat per state (plus the FCT) in both the Senate and House of Representatives, totaling 37 additional seats each and three reserved seats per state in Houses of Assembly, expanding the legislatures accordingly.
Governor Sani pointed the need to address structural barriers and gender imbalances, noting that women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population but hold only a tiny fraction of political positions. In the current 10th National Assembly, women occupy just around 4% of seats, with even starker gaps at the state level, 14 states, including Kaduna itself in recent assemblies, have had zero female representation at times.
In recent developments, the governor hosted and flagged off the North-West zonal campaign for the bill on January 29, 2026, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall in Murtala Square, Kaduna. The event, themed โNorth West Women Rising: Advocating for Our Constitutional Space in Leadership,โ brought together women from across the region to rally support and push for fair representation in governance.
Earlier efforts in Kaduna, including stakeholder forums in late 2025, saw women leaders, civil society groups, and officials urging swift passage ahead of key National Assembly votes. Governor Sani’s backing aligns with progressive state measures, such as gender-responsive procurement policies and a dedicated Gender Desk at the Kaduna Public Procurement Authority.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill remains under consideration in the National Assembly as part of broader constitutional review efforts, with ongoing campaigns emphasizing citizen engagement and cross-regional momentum. Governor Sani’s prominent role positions Kaduna as a key driver in the push for gender equity in Nigerian politics.
