GENDER INEQUALITY AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN NIGERIA: EVALUATING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S BILL ON SPECIAL SEATS FOR WOMEN
Introduction AND BACKGROUND: Gender inequality continues to shape many aspects of Nigeria’s social and political life, and one of the clearest places this imbalance appears is in political representation. Although women make up roughly half of the country’s population and contribute significantly to national development, their presence in political offices remains very low. Over the years, Nigeria has adopted constitutional principles of equality and has also aligned itself with international agreements that promote women’s rights and inclusion. Yet, in practice, women still face serious barriers when it comes to participating in politics and holding legislative power. This gap between formal equality and actual representation raises important questions about how democratic Nigeria truly is and how inclusive its political institutions are. Politics in Nigeria has long been dominated by men, not simply by coincidence but as a result of deep cultural traditions, economic disadvan...