On Wednesday, various women’s groups occupied the National Assembly gate in protest of the failure of a bill to create a “special seat” for women.
The women gathered at the three arm zone early in the morning and marched to the National Assembly gate, chanting songs of solidarity.
The organizations demand that federal lawmakers reconsider the requests for 111 seats for women, citizenship, 35 percent representation in party leadership, and more appointive positions in government, and vote in favor of these amendments.
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, and the Islamic Youth League are among the organizations that have joined the protest.
The protest comes less than 24 hours after a bill to create special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly was defeated.
The ‘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,’ failed after the majority of lawmakers voted against it.
During the plenary on Tuesday, lawmakers voted on 68 Constitution Amendment bills.
The bill for special seats for women was defeated in the Senate by 58 votes out of 91, while it was defeated in the House of Representatives by 208 votes out of 290 lawmakers.
SEE PHOTOS OF THE PROTEST
