The House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA) has proposed a strategic partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) to intensify advocacy and lobbying efforts for the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill aimed at increasing women’s representation in governance.
The proposal was made in Abuja by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, during a courtesy visit by HORSA to PLAC headquarters.
Abbas said HORSA was prepared to leverage its network and strategic position to mobilise support for the bill within the National Assembly and across relevant governance institutions.
She described the Reserved Seats Bill as more than a constitutional amendment, calling it a pathway toward a more inclusive and equitable democratic system.
According to her, while progress has been recorded in women’s participation in politics, significant gaps still remain in representation across governance structures in Nigeria.
Abbas stressed that achieving the objectives of the bill would require sustained advocacy, strategic collaboration, and deliberate engagement with stakeholders.
She proposed that HORSA and PLAC jointly convene a high-level workshop involving legislators, development partners, policy experts and advocacy groups to develop practical strategies for strengthening support for the bill.
“It is therefore our proposal that PLAC explore the opportunity of jointly convening a high-level strategic workshop that brings together key stakeholders, advocates, legislators, development partners and thought leaders to critically examine practical approaches for strengthening advocacy, influence and lobbying efforts in support of the Reserved Seats Bill,” she said.
She added that such engagement would help identify champions of the bill, build consensus and generate momentum for its passage.
Abbas expressed confidence that collaboration between HORSA and PLAC would advance efforts to expand women’s participation in decision-making across all levels of government.
Also speaking, chairman of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, said the bill had been widely misunderstood as being targeted at male politicians.
She clarified that the proposal was not intended to displace men from elective positions but to expand representation and strengthen inclusivity in governance.
