Reps oppose bill for special seats for women in parliament
The House of Representatives has opposed a bill pursuing to reserve special seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly.
This comes after the rejection of the bill at the electronic voting on the amendment of 1999 Constitution on Tuesday in Abuja
The bill entitled,” A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide For Special Seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly”.
In favour of the bill, eighty-one lawmakers voted while 208 voted against it and 13 members abstained from voting.
The wife of Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo attended the voting while trying to lobby for the adoption of the bill by the lawmakers.
The Vice President’s wife was accompanied by Mrs Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Women Affairs, Civil Society Organisations and women groups.
Also, the lawmakers opposed a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration.
Two hundred and twenty-four lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, falling short of the required 240 votes needed to pass the ball.
However, the House via a voice vote adopted a bill seeking for a minimum percentage of women in either ministerial or commissioner appointment.
The bill entitled, “a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide a Minimum Percentage for Women in Ministerial or Commissioner Nominees.”
This, nonetheless, was not without the intervention of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and some lawmakers who pleaded with their colleagues to permit the bill to be endorsed.
About Author
