By Ayodele Oni
Women Groups in Ondo State, on Wednesday, rallied in support of the proposed reserved seats for Women Bill, urging lawmakers to approve 35 per cent affirmative action for the gender in elective and appointive positions.
The groups, mobilised by the Nigeria League of Women Voters (NILOWV), the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), gathered at the State Ministry of Women Affairs.
Other participants included members of the Forum of Muslim Women, female political aspirants, and women-led civil society organisations.
Speaking at the rally, leaders called for sustained advocacy to ensure the bill’s passage, stressing that the proposed legislation would address the persistent underrepresentation of women in governance.
The State Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs Bolanle Olafunmiloye, said the rally aimed to build momentum for the Special Seats Bill, a constitutional amendment designed to correct gender imbalance in legislative institutions.
She explained that the initiative does not seek to compete with men, but to promote inclusive governance.
According to her, the bill proposes additional seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, creating more opportunities for female participation in decision-making.
Also speaking, the State President of NCWS, Bishop Oluseyi Odusola, urged women to unite and push for common goals.
She described women as capable and competent leaders and called for swift passage of the bill to improve their representation.
A female aspirant for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Mrs Olamide Falana, said Nigerian women have faced longstanding barriers in politics despite their numerical strength.
She described the bill as a necessary step to reverse political marginalization.
“We appeal to the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. Its passage will place Nigeria among nations that empower women to lead and excel,” she said.
The rally ended with the presentation of petitions to Ondo State lawmakers at the National Assembly, including the Senator representing Ondo Central, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), and the member representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Derin Adesida. Both lawmakers pledged support for the bill
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