Reserving legislative seats for women could inject more than $269 billion into Nigeria’s economy over the next decade by improving women’s education and participation, the TOS Group has said.
The Chief Executive Officer of TOS Group and convener of the coalition backing the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, Chief Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche, stated this at a media roundtable held in Abuja on Wednesday, where she highlighted the economic benefits of the proposed legislation.
Referencing studies by global institutions, Igbinedion-Ogwuche said, “We’ve all read the research by the World Bank, the United Nations, McKinsey that over $269 billion can be added to our GDP in the next decade just by improving women and kids’ education. So there’s a socioeconomic benefit to this,” she said.
She also pointed to broader continental data, recalling findings from the 2024 Regional Economic Impact (Africa) report by the Mastercard Foundation and McKinsey, which showed that increasing young women’s participation in Africa’s formal workforce could add $287 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2030.
Linking the issue to Nigeria’s democratic and economic challenges, Igbinedion-Ogwuche noted that although women constitute about 50 per cent of the population, they hold just 4 per cent of parliamentary seats. She cited figures showing 16 women out of 360 members in the House of Representatives, four out of 109 senators, 51 women out of 993 lawmakers in state assemblies, and no female representation in 16 states.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill, she explained, seeks to create 74 additional seats in the National Assembly and 108 seats in state assemblies, all to be filled through elections contested by female candidates from political parties.
Clarifying misconceptions about the bill, she said, “It’s not an appointment, it’s not a handout. This is a competition,” while noting persistent barriers such as political violence, religion, tradition, high nomination fees and male gatekeeping.
She warned that delays in passing the bill could jeopardise its implementation ahead of the 2027 general elections. “If this bill does not scale next month, it cannot be operationalised by 2027.”
“If they delay it any further, then we cannot operationalise it until 2031. Meaning that we’re keeping 50 per cent of our population on the sideline for another four years.”
Igbinedion-Ogwuche stressed the democratic implications of exclusion, warning, “We cannot legislate for a people without them on the table.”
Providing legal and policy context, Barrister Andikan Umoh described the bill as a governance reform with clear economic benefits.
“Women’s representation is linked to stronger social policy outcomes… higher investments in health, education, and social protection.
It also lowers corruption practices and promotes more collaborative policy-making,” she stated.
Umoh added that Nigeria’s four to five per cent female representation falls far below Africa’s average of 23 to 27 per cent and Rwanda’s 61 per cent quota model, noting, “A legislature that excludes half the population lacks… legitimacy.”
She said the group’s 469 Tracker initiative monitors lawmakers and responds to criticisms, including claims that women benefit unfairly from free nomination forms.
“The sad truth is, there are systemic barriers that are currently preventing women from running,” Umoh said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Kingsley Sintim, called on the media to play an active role in advancing the campaign. “We know the power of the media… use your voice to amplify this effect,” he urged.
“Amplify this human-centred story that will critically impact this movement… We need broader citizen awareness.”
