A delegation of Nigerian women advocates led by ActionAid Nigeria has taken the campaign for the passage of the Special Seats Bill to the United Nations headquarters, meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, on the sidelines of 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
The delegation, comprising prominent feminists and gender rights advocates, was led by ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, who said the meeting was aimed at seeking international support in advancing the advocacy for more inclusive representation of women in Nigeria’s political leadership.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohammed commended the delegation for their commitment to strengthening gender equality and urged sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to translate advocacy into policy change.
“Nigeria needs more women in governance, and everyone — men and women alike — must work together to make this happen. Adequate representation brings balance and drives development,” she stated.
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ActionAid’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, described women as “central to national development,” stressing that the Special Seats Bill represents an essential step toward correcting Nigeria’s gender imbalance in politics.
“Passing this bill will not only reduce the imbalance but also set Nigeria on the right track toward inclusive governance,” he said.
Other members of the delegation included Ebere Ifendu of the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), Bose Ironsi of the Women’s Health and Rights organization, Prof. Joy Ezeilo of Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny and Funmi Olukeye of ActionAid Nigeria, as well as Dr. Amina Omeri of Safepoint and Care Initiative.
The Special Seats Bill seeks to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s National Assembly by creating additional elective positions exclusively for women — three per state in the Senate and six per state in the House of Representatives. The initiative aims to ensure sustained inclusion until existing gender disparities in elective politics are addressed.
The bill, first introduced in 2020, has undergone debates and public hearings in both chambers of the National Assembly but is yet to be passed. Lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to push for its reconsideration and passage as Nigeria approaches the next electoral cycle.
