Special Seat Is Democratic: NASS Urged to Pass Bill

Austin Aigbe FSM
Gender Rights Advocate

In the aftermath of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, I sat with a heavy heart and a clear conclusion: affirmative action legislation is essential to address the stark underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political leadership. Despite women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, they occupy less than 5 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, underscoring a civic duty to effect change.

As the then Secretary of the National Coalition of Affirmative Action (NCAA) in my state, I worked alongside visionary women such as the late Oby Nwankwo, who helped lead the national gender equality architecture, as well as Hajia Saudatu Mandi and Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, among others. Together, we pushed for the full domestication of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), culminating in the proposed Gender and Equal Opportunity (GEO) Bill. Yet, since 2007, that bill has languished in the National Assembly, stalled by political resistance and cultural pushback.

Now, the Special Seats Bill offers a breakthrough. It is not a compromise—it is a resolution. It responds to criticisms of the GEO Bill by focusing on representation rather than just rights. It proposes additional seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly, to be contested exclusively by women, without reducing existing seats or threatening incumbents. It is a democratic innovation, not a disruption.

Why Special Seats Matter

The argument is simple: democracy must reflect the people. If half of the population is excluded from decision-making, democracy remains incomplete. Special seats are not about tokenism; they are about correcting structural imbalances. Sierra Leone, for example, passed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act in 2022, addressing gender gaps by increasing women’s representation in decision-making, improving access to finance and employment, and promoting equal opportunities in education and training. Other countries, including Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, have used constitutional and legislative measures to advance gender parity. Nigeria should no longer lag.

The Special Seats Bill also directly addresses the barriers women face when contesting elections:

Violence and intimidation, particularly during party primaries.
The monetisation of politics disadvantages women with fewer financial resources.
Patriarchal party structures that sideline women during candidate selection.
By creating a guaranteed pathway, the bill enables women to enter the political space, build experience, and eventually compete for general seats on a more equal footing.

The Human Cost of Delay

Every election cycle without reform is a missed opportunity. In 2023, only 3.6 per cent of those elected to the National Assembly were women; it is not merely a statistic; it represents hundreds of capable women denied a voice. It reflects the silencing of perspectives on maternal health, education, gender-based violence, and economic inclusion.

I have previously supported interventions aimed at strengthening the capacity of women candidates—many of whom were more qualified than their male opponents but were pushed aside by party gatekeepers. I have seen communities rally behind women leaders, only to be told they are “not electable.” The Special Seats Bill is a lifeline for these women—and for the communities they seek to represent.

A Call to the National Assembly

The National Assembly has a patriotic duty to pass this bill now, as it directly impacts Nigeria’s democratic future and inclusivity.

Nigeria’s lawmakers must rise above partisan interests and act in the national interest. The bill has reached its final stage of legislative consideration. The time to act is now—before the 2027 elections are upon us.

Conclusion: Democracy Is Representation

The Special Seats Bill is a vital democratic correction that ensures equal participation and opportunity, enabling meaningful change.

Let us not wait another decade. Let us not mourn another election cycle defined by exclusion. Let us pass the Special Seats Bill—and finally make democracy whole.

Special Seat Is Democratic: NASS Urged to Pass Bill

UMTH: 40-Room Lodge for the Comfort of Patients’ Relations and Visitors

By: Balami Lazarus

Writing on the progress of developments and innovations at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), you begin to wonder what literary genre you are going to use to write the literature of this great hospital. Well, for NEWSng, prose is the best genre to place UMTH. Why? Because there are so many angles one can take up the story of this hospital under the progressive leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD).

The rhythm of innovations in terms of making the hospital a serene and comfortable environment for medical and health care, where medical treatments are administered to patients, taking into consideration the comfort of patients’ relations and visitors to the hospital, and the need for affordable accommodation is paramount.

Therefore, the rhythm is rhyming with the ongoing construction of a 40-room lodge sponsored by the Borno State Government under the administration of His Excellency Babagana Zulum. NEWSng was also informed that such a project/innovation is not common in most hospitals.

Similarly, there are other facilities like orchards, restaurants, and gardens with water fountains for the relaxation and comfort of recuperating patients or their relations, including visitors and students alike. There is also a large conference hall with over 350 seats open for both internal and public use to generate more revenue for the hospital.

Hospitals are generally seen as places meant for medical/healthcare services for patients only. But the case of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) is a shift from hospital tradition—a different ball game.

Notwithstanding, its primary objectives are priorities: to provide medical and health care services, teaching, and research for the betterment of our health sector.

“Comprehensive medical health cover” is a term/language used and associated with the insurance industry. Where you are totally covered and insured health-wise.

Today UMTH has covered you comprehensively, bringing the comforts of homes near patients who are seeking medical treatments, care, and attention to make them feel comfortable as a way to get healed. For this reason, Prof. Ahidjo has worked out sponsorship for providing the hospital with 40 rooms in the Hospital Lodge within the premises of the facility meant for patients’ relations and visitors. The rooms are all en suite and shall be equipped with modern facilities for the comforts of the patient’s relations who might have come from far or near, as the case may be.

You may wish to agree with NEWSng that UMTH is a pacesetter among her peers in terms of modern hospital equipment, materials, progress, growth, and developments.

UMTH: 40-Room Lodge for the Comfort of Patients’ Relations and Visitors

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FCE Gombe gets new Registrar

The Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, has approved the appointment of Mallam Haruna Ayuba, the most senior Deputy Registrar, as Acting Registrar of the College.

Ayuba’s appointment which is to ensure continuity in the administration of the College, followed the dismissal of four senior officers of the institution.

Mr Dahiru Gurama, the Acting Director, Public Relations and Protocol at the College disclosed this in a press statement issued in Gombe on Tuesday.

Gurama said that the Council approved the dismissal of the four senior officers of the institution based on gross misconduct.

Our Correspondent reports that those dismissed are the Registrar, Alhaji Umar Bello; the College Librarian, Yusuf Aliyu; the Director of Works and Services, Mr. Muhammad Malam.

An internal member of the Governing Council representing the Non-Teaching Staff Congregation, Ibrahim Shehu completes the number.

He said that the decision was taken at the 7th meeting of the Governing Council held on 31st January, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja.

“The dismissals followed earlier suspensions and were based on the findings and recommendations of a fact-finding committee.

“The Committee was set up by the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the Governing Council’s Investigative committee, which indicted the officers on various counts of gross misconduct.”