By Mercy Aikoye
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called for partnership with the United States government to support Nigeria’s efforts in promoting gender equity and electoral reforms. Kalu made the call during a meeting with a delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria led by Mr. David Frost, a political counselor, and Cassandra Carrony at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The Deputy Speaker, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, emphasized the need for collaboration in three key areas: technical expertise, advocacy, and capacity building. He specifically highlighted the importance of sharing comparative insights on gender-responsive electoral systems, amplifying stakeholder engagement with civil society, media, and political parties, and co-creating a women’s legislative leadership program to train future female lawmakers.
Kalu noted that the constitution review committee has prioritized women’s participation in governance, judicial reforms, local government reforms, and youth empowerment. He cited the low representation of women in legislative seats nationwide, stressing that the committee has proposed adding special seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assemblies.
The Deputy Speaker emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy remains incomplete as long as half of its population – women – are relegated to the sidelines. He stated that women currently hold only 4% of legislative seats nationwide, with some states having no female representation in their State Assemblies. To address this imbalance, the committee has introduced the Special Seats Bill, which reserves 182 additional legislative seats for women.
Kalu highlighted that the bill addresses systemic barriers such as financial exclusion, electoral violence, and patriarchal norms by creating women-only constituencies. He expressed his determination to ensure that the constitution review process is inclusive and representative of all Nigerians.
The Deputy Speaker also announced that the zonal public hearing on the thematic areas of the constitution review process will commence soon across the six geopolitical zones. He emphasized the importance of broad-based public participation and partnership with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that Nigeria’s constitution becomes a beacon of equity, security, and prosperity.
Kalu stressed that the constitution review is a moral covenant with future generations, not just a legislative exercise. He urged the U.S. Embassy to partner with the House of Representatives to co-design a Nigeria-U.S. Governance Innovation Hub to pilot reforms and host joint workshops on state policing models and gender-responsive budgeting.
The U.S. delegation, led by Mr. David Frost, expressed their commitment to exploring areas of collaboration with the Deputy Speaker’s Office on the ongoing constitution review. They emphasized the importance of maintaining connection and communication with the House of Representatives to further their collaboration.
