Tolu Bankole, a member of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee, has praised the Reserved Seats for Women Bill and joined Nigerian political parties and rights advocates in calling for its expeditious passage.
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the APC national leader for persons with disabilities expressed gratitude.
The measure aims to allocate three seats per state in each of the 36 state assemblies, 37 seats in the Senate, and 37 seats in the House of Representatives—all exclusively for female candidates.
The proposed legislation is now scheduled for a third reading in October. Following that, it will be forwarded to state houses of assembly and finally to the president for assent.
With just 3.7% of Senate seats and 3.9% of House of Representatives seats currently held by women, women’s representation in Nigeria’s legislature has remained pitifully low.
Bankole urged for the same affirmative action to be extended to those with disabilities in his comments, calling the bill “timely and reflective of the nation’s readiness.”
“Women are the engine room of development,” he stated. Without women, there would be no country. In addition to being intelligent, receptive, compassionate, responsible, capable, and trustworthy, Nigerian women are stunning. They are renowned and honourable in their managerial innovation.
They are the foundation of any prosperous home, and consequently, of businesses and countries. Their participation in political leadership will improve judgement, spur creativity, and fortify our democracy.
The leader of the APC further urged state and federal legislators to expedite the legislation’s approval while ensuring that PWD requirements are included:
“I respectfully ask our esteemed lawmakers to expedite the passage of this crucial legislation and to provide equal treatment to individuals with disabilities, who continue to be among the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Bankole emphasised the attributes that women contribute to politics and management, such as dispelling prejudices, providing a range of viewpoints, exhibiting collaborative leadership, and setting an example for the next generation.
Additionally, he emphasised the need of acknowledging PWDs’ rights and potential and pushed for their inclusion in the campaign for allocated seats.
He said, “Affirmative action for PWDs is a national imperative to harness the skills and insights of millions of Nigerians who face systemic barriers, not just an act of compassion.”
