Tinubu pledges decisive action on gender policies, backs push for special seats for women

President Bola Tinubu on Friday assured Nigerian women of decisive action on gender-sensitive policies, placing the long-standing demand for special seats in the National Assembly at the forefront of his address during the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention at Eagles Square.

Speaking before party faithful, Tinubu emphasized the indispensable role of women in Nigeria’s growth and stability. “To the women of Nigeria and our party, I say your role in our glory and our growth and stability is essential,” he stated.

He recounted a conversation with his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, just before he took the podium, in which she questioned the absence of women moving motions at the event.

“Just a few minutes ago, my wife asked me one strange question: Whether there are no women to move motions. Why is it that there are only men moving motions? What about the special place for women? I assured her we will move decisively on that.”

The President’s commitment aligns with efforts to advance a constitutional amendment bill proposing 30 percent special seats for women in legislative houses—a measure women’s groups and advocates have championed for years to address Nigeria’s pronounced gender imbalance in politics. Currently, women hold fewer than 5 percent of seats in the National Assembly.

The pledge builds on earlier advocacy by the First Lady. In February 2025, she hosted female lawmakers at the Presidential Villa, urging swift passage of the special seats bill. During the closed-door meeting, she appealed to the women’s caucus to rally cross-party support, emphasizing that gender equity strengthens national democracy.

The bill, which passed a second reading in the House of Representatives in 2022 before stalling, has regained momentum amid international pressure from forums such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Tinubu reiterated the APC’s commitment to gender sensitivity, stating, “It’s a promise that we are very gender sensitive.”

Party women leaders hailed the remarks as a “game-changer” and vowed to mobilize for the bill’s revival when the National Assembly reconvenes.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts