Constitution amendment: Women insist on 111 ‘special seats’ in NASS, protest rejection of 35% Affirmative Action  

Nigerian women led by several advocacy groups on Wednesday sustained demands for 111 seats for women in the federal legislature, 35% representation in party leadership, more appointive positions in government in the amendment of the constitution. The reiterated these demands as a coalition of Gender and Constitution Reform Network, comprising of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWA), Women Organisation for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), Women In Business (WIMBIZ), Action Aid, Yiaga Africa, the Islamic Youth League, and others staged a protest at the National Assembly on Wednesday morning agitating the failed amendments in the constitution on sections addressing gender equality.

Majority federal lawmakers voted against The Bill titled ‘Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters,’ on Tuesday. Others female empowerment bills were also rejected, compelling the Nigerian women to storm the National Assembly demanding on Wednesday.