By Our Reporter
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday said Nigeria cannot prosper by leaving half of its talents and energy on the sidelines.
Speaking at the National Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja, Abbas stressed the need for greater inclusion of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in governance.
“Today, women hold less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly. That statistic is unacceptable for a country of our size and ambition,” he said.
The Speaker explained that the constitution review process was designed to be participatory, following zonal hearings across the six geopolitical zones to capture citizens’ concerns and aspirations.
He assured that the House would conclude the process within a set timeframe to avoid delays that often erode public trust. “Reform delayed is reform denied, and Nigerians deserve clarity and closure,” Abbas said.
Among the key proposals under consideration are:
Reserved seats for women in the National and State Assemblies.
Mandatory representation for persons with disabilities.
A minimum threshold of women in ministerial appointments.
Defined advisory roles for traditional rulers in peace-building and community security.
According to him, these measures will make governance more representative and align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“As we amend our Constitution, let it be remembered that this generation chose courage over caution, unity over discord, and posterity over short-term politics,” Abbas added.