By Abubakar Musa Haruna
Member Representing Bama, Ngala and KalaBalge Federal constituency at the National Assembly Honourable Zainab Gimba has commended male lawmakers for their unwavering support for the reserved seats for women bill, assuring them that the additional seats would not threaten their own positions.
Hon Gimba revealed that about 80% of male legislators in the National Assembly are in support of the reserved seats for women bill .
She stated this while speaking to Radio Nig in an interview on the 1999 constitution review and public hearing which took place at the Mohammed Indimi multi-purpose hall University of Maiduguri
She expressed hope that the bill would gain passage, leading to enhanced representation for Nigerian women.
Zainab Gimba Said, the bill aims to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly through the amendment of various sections of the 1999 Constitution of section 48, which provides for composition of the senate as three Senators from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory, totalling 109 senators, is to be amended.
She explained that one additional senator for each state and the Federal Capital Territory, who shall be a woman making 37 more senators while Section 49, which provides that the House of Representatives shall consist of 360 members, is to be amended to include two additional members for each state and the Federal Capital Territory, who shall be women which makes up 74 more of Reps members.
According to her the state houses of assembly proposes extra 108 seats specially for women through the addition of one female member from each of the three senatorial districts in the 36 state assemblies.
The law maker added that, the significance of additional seats for women in the National and State Assemblies cannot be overemphasized, given the substantial contributions of women to bring development to their communities accross the country.
She further stated that special attention is being channelled to address all grey areas that brought about the setback of the bill the last time.
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