Constitution review: Women empowerment, a strategic economic necessity – Speaker Abbas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has stressed the need to empower women, noting that it is a necessary, strategic move for economic growth.

Speaker Abbas said it is disheartening that females are low in numbers at the National Assembly.

The Speaker made these points in his keynote address at the International Legislative Dialogue on Women and the Constitution Amendment Process in Nigeria, which was organised by the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution in Abuja on Monday.

Physically present or represented at the event were presiding and principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, female party and forum leaders, gender-based civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

The attendees include the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; wife of Kwara State Governor and Chairperson, Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, Amb. Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who represented the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.

Also in attendance were the Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Elsie Attafuah; Deputy Ambassador, European Union Delegation to Nigeria & the ECOWAS, Mr. Zissimos Vergos; and the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo.

Others were the Speaker, Parliament of Tanzania & President, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Tulia Ackson; and Member, Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, among others.

“Today represents a meaningful step forward in our collective commitment to inclusive governance and national progress,” Speaker Abbas stated, while noting that the dialogue was “not for rhetoric but to establish a clear and actionable path toward meaningful reform.”

He said: “Our goal is to ensure that Nigerian women, an essential part of our nation’s social and economic fabric, secure their rightful place within our governance framework. Empowering women is not only a moral and democratic imperative but also a strategic economic necessity.”

The Speaker referenced researches from global institutions, including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, which show that organisations and countries benefit from better decision-making, stronger economic growth, and enhanced social well-being when women hold leadership roles.

Speaker Abbas said: “Women bring unique perspectives influencing vital issues, from healthcare to economic policy, creating legislation that resonates with millions. McKinsey estimates that closing gender gaps could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025, underscoring the immense untapped potential of women’s inclusion. Thus, increased representation of women is not a luxury but a necessity for sustainable national development and stability.

“Around the world, and particularly in Africa, we see encouraging examples of gender inclusion. Rwanda, with over 60 percent women representation in its parliament, has shown us that robust, intentional policies work. South Africa, Namibia, and Senegal have all taken significant strides toward inclusivity, reshaping their political landscapes in ways Nigeria can learn from. These countries have demonstrated the profound impact of women’s perspectives on governance and development.

“For Nigeria, the current numbers are disheartening. Since 1999, women’s representation in our National Assembly has remained disappointingly low. Despite notable contributions from Nigerian women across various sectors, only 20 of the 469 seats in our National Assembly are occupied by women. This stark gap speaks not of a lack of capable women, but of institutional barriers we must dismantle.”

While noting that some view increased women’s representation as a threat to the status quo, Speaker Abbas noted that “inclusion is not displacement—it is partnership.”

He added that women’s presence complements the contributions of men, enriching the policymaking process. “If we trust women to shape our homes, nurture our families, and educate our children, we must trust them to contribute to shaping our nation’s future,” he stressed.

While pointing out that affirmative action policies to increase women’s representation are not undemocratic, the Speaker said on the contrary, they are deeply aligned with democratic principles.

Speaker Abbas noted: “As lawmakers, we are responsible for advancing policies that reflect the values of fairness and equity. I am proud to state that this 10th House has prioritised inclusivity in our Legislative Agenda. I have directed the Constitution Review Committee to focus on reforms that promote gender equity and provide additional or reserved seats for women in our legislative bodies.

“We must work towards joint ticketing in elections, reserved seats, and conferring equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women. However, reform is a collective responsibility, and we cannot simply issue communiqués or promises. We must translate today’s dialogue into real, actionable outcomes.”