Survey showed strong public backing for women as PLAC drives momentum for Special Seats Bill
The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from the European Union (EU), on Tuesday, August 19, held a webinar to sustain advocacy for the Special Seats Bill, which seeks to create additional legislative seats for women in Nigeria.
The virtual meeting, themed “Sustaining Momentum for the Special Seats Bill: Survey Insights on Public Understanding & Support”, drew legislators, experts, civil society, and media, including Neptune Prime.
Deputy Executive Director of PLAC, Omolara Akinyeye, said the Bill represents a critical step toward inclusive governance. She noted that while support is strong, the real challenge is ensuring that citizens press their lawmakers to turn advocacy into actual votes on the floor of the National Assembly.
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Hon. Rima Shawulu, former House of Representatives member from Taraba State, urged advocates to take the message directly to constituencies, where representatives are most responsive. Similarly, Skill Hub Principal Consultant Esther Hadiza Ijeaku stressed the need for strategic communication to sustain public pressure and keep the Bill in focus.
Findings from a nationwide survey commissioned by PLAC and conducted by NOI Polls formed a key highlight of the event. Presenting the results, NOI Polls CEO, Dr. Chike Nwangwu, showed that 91 percent of Nigerians support increasing women’s participation in governance. Radio (38 percent) and television (25 percent) were identified as the main sources of awareness about the Bill, though public engagement in forums remained very low.
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The survey also showed a notable gender difference in support, with 96 percent of women and 89 percent of men agreeing on the need for more female representation. Nearly half of respondents recommended wider public campaigns as the best way to drive awareness, while others pointed to social media and partnerships with women’s groups as effective strategies.
The session was moderated by parliamentary reporter, Terry Ikumi of Channels TV, and featured contributions from participants and an enlightening question-and-answer segment. Participants raised issues ranging from comparisons with independent candidacy to civic education efforts.
Many also commended PLAC, the EU, and other stakeholders for making the Bill’s proposals accessible to citizens, and appreciated its simplicity.
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