ABEOKUTA – The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, has reinforced the legislature’s commitment to inclusive governance following a high-level advocacy visit by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ogun State Chapter.
The Speaker’s remarks came as NAWOJ formally presented a position paper seeking legislative backing for the Special Seats Bill (HB1349), a constitutional intervention designed to correct the underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legislative houses.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, the Acting Chairperson of NAWOJ, Oluwatoyin Adegoke, underscored the urgency of the bill, noting that Nigeria’s democratic framework remains incomplete while half of its population is structurally excluded from decision-making.
“Women’s marginal representation in legislative bodies is not a reflection of capacity but the result of entrenched systemic barriers that require deliberate and corrective legislative action,” Adegoke stated.
The association emphasized that the Special Seats Bill is a critical step toward restoring balance and credibility to the nation’s democratic process.
NAWOJ urged the Ogun State House of Assembly to lead by example in endorsing gender-responsive policies.
The association specifically requested the Speaker’s intervention in three key areas:
- Advocacy Support: Lending a powerful legislative voice to the passage of HB1349.
- State-Level Engagement: Supporting resolutions that promote women’s political inclusion within Ogun State.
- Legislative Alignment: Encouraging Ogun lawmakers to align with national efforts to dismantle barriers to women’s leadership.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide praised the association for its commitment to equity and good governance. He reaffirmed that the Ogun State House of Assembly remains dedicated to an inclusive approach where all stakeholders have a seat at the table.
The Speaker assured the delegation that the Assembly would continue to promote policies that enhance sustainable democratic development, recognizing that representation is a fundamental pillar of a thriving society.
