By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called on the United States government to support Nigeria’s push for electoral reforms and increased female representation in politics.
Kalu appealed yesterday during a meeting with officials from the US Embassy in Nigeria, led by Political Counsellor David Frost and Cassandra Carrony, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
During the engagement, Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution, identified three core areas for potential collaboration: technical support, advocacy, and capacity development.
He stressed the importance of learning from the American experience with gender-responsive electoral practices.
“We want to know what has worked for you, especially in advancing inclusive elections. We can adapt those models with your existing structures to meet our unique goals. This isn’t just for show; it’s about creating real, lasting impact,” he said.
Kalu proposed developing a women’s legislative leadership programme to mentor and train emerging female politicians. He also suggested greater engagement with civil society, political parties, and the media to build momentum for inclusive governance.
Regarding traditional leadership, the deputy speaker disclosed that the committee is considering constitutional roles for traditional rulers to promote national cohesion and stability.
Addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in politics, Kalu lamented that women currently occupy only about 4 per cent of legislative seats across the country, and some states, such as Kano and Sokoto, do not have a single female lawmaker.
He described this imbalance as a “fundamental injustice” and revealed that the committee is pushing a constitutional amendment to allocate Special Seats for women.
“In our consultations, the consensus has been clear. We are proposing to introduce one additional Special Seat for women per state in the Senate and House of Representatives, and one per senatorial district at the state level,” he explained.
This proposal, encapsulated in the Special Seats Bill (HB 1349), would reserve 182 seats—37 in the Senate, 37 in the House, and 108 in State Houses of Assembly—for women for a 16-year transitional period. The bill aims to dismantle structural barriers that prevent women from entering politics, including financial exclusion, electoral violence, and entrenched patriarchal systems.
Kalu also revealed that zonal public hearings on constitution review themes would soon commence in all six geopolitical zones. He said this would give citizens across Nigeria a platform to voice their concerns and help shape the constitutional reforms.
“The review process is more than legislative—it is a generational pact,” he said. “With the support of partners like the U.S. Embassy, we can ensure our constitutional reforms lead to a more inclusive, just, and prosperous Nigeria.”
He further proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-U.S. Governance Innovation Hub that would drive reforms through collaborative workshops focused on issues such as state policing and gender-responsive budgeting.
“Let’s move from talk to tangible action,” Kalu urged. “We can co-create solutions that make democracy work better for everyone.”
In their remarks, the US delegation said the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with the Deputy Speaker’s office, particularly regarding constitutional reforms.
“We had a brief encounter with the Deputy Speaker during a PLAC event focused on local government autonomy, which is one of the issues we’re discussing today,” said a representative. “Our visit reaffirms our long-standing partnership and the importance of continued dialogue on Nigeria’s constitutional development.”
