Speaker Bathiya, Backs Reserved Seats Bill Amid Growing Calls to End Women’s Marginalisation in Politics

Daily Rendezvous 

By News Rendezvous Reporter |

July 9, 2025

YOLA – The Honourable Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, has thrown his weight behind the proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill, describing it as a necessary intervention to correct the systemic marginalisation of women in Nigeria’s political and public sectors.

Speaker Wesley gave the assurance when he received Hon. Fatuka and her advocacy team on a courtesy visit at the State Assembly Complex in Yola.

The Speaker, while addressing the delegation, acknowledged the vast underrepresentation of women in leadership across all levels of government, stressing that the Bill aligns with the global push for inclusive governance and democratic equity.

“This Bill is not just about women; it is about justice and balanced leadership. Our society cannot progress when half of its population is excluded from key decision-making spaces,” Speaker Wesley said.

Hon. Hyelagiziya Fatuka, a vocal advocate for gender equity in governance, used the visit to appeal to the State Assembly to support the proposed legislation, which seeks to reserve a specific percentage of elective and appointive seats for women at the state and local government levels.

Persistent Marginalisation in Focus

Women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, yet they occupy less than 10% of elected positions nationwide. This dismal representation stands in stark contrast to global and regional targets, including the African Union’s 50:50 gender parity goal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite the critical role women play in social, economic, and community development, structural and cultural barriers have continued to restrict their access to political power. These include financial constraints, gender bias, political violence, and deeply entrenched patriarchal norms.

Hon. Fatuka emphasized these issues during the visit, noting that, “Across Nigeria, brilliant and capable women are sidelined simply because they are women. This Bill is not asking for favour—it is demanding fairness.”

A Bold Step for Adamawa State

Adamawa has historically had low female representation in its political hierarchy, with very few women occupying seats in the State Assembly or serving in high-ranking executive positions.

By lending his support to the Bill, Speaker Wesley may be paving the way for Adamawa to become a model for gender-sensitive legislation in northern Nigeria—a region where women face even steeper hurdles to political participation.

The visit by Hon. Fatuka’s team is part of a wider advocacy tour aimed at securing legislative support across Nigeria’s 36 states ahead of the 2027 general elections. If passed, the Reserved Seats for Women Bill could help institutionalise gender equity in political representation and open the door for more inclusive governance at all levels.

Next Steps

Eric Ishaya, who serves as Media and Communications Officer for the advocacy group, noted that engagements will continue with civil society, traditional leaders, and political stakeholders to galvanize broader support.

“What we are seeing in Adamawa today is encouraging,” Ishaya said. “We hope other states will follow suit and do what is right for our democracy.”

As the movement for gender mainstreaming gains momentum, the support of influential leaders like Speaker Wesley may be the tipping point that finally ends decades of marginalisation of Nigerian women in public life.