Abbas Champions Reserved Seats, Traditional Institutions for Sustainable Leadership

The Speaker of Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has continuously supported creative legislative reforms that aim to promote fairness, inclusivity, and institutional relevance since taking office in June 2023.

His push to allocate constitutional functions to traditional institutions and to reserve legislative seats for women are two notable aspects of his legislative approach.

These programs demonstrate Speaker Abbas’s profound comprehension of Nigeria’s intricate social landscape and his dedication to establishing an inclusive, representative, and long-lasting governing system.

The continuing underrepresentation of women in elective posts in Nigeria is the direct result of Speaker Abbas’s support for reserved parliamentary seats for women. Women hold less than 10% of elected positions at the federal and state levels, but possibly making up more than half of the society.

Speaker Abbas has spearheaded discussions and continues to advocate for legislative proposals to establish reserved seats for women in the National and States Houses of Assembly, acknowledging that this disparity is unfair and detrimental, especially considering Nigeria’s enviable position at the bottom of Africa’s reference ladder.

The proposed “Reserved Seats for Women Bill” reflects this endeavor, which aims to ensure gender parity by establishing a minimum threshold of female involvement in governance and fostering a more inclusive and fair legislative process.

There are numerous advantages to this undertaking, to paraphrase the Speaker’s own remarks at various national and international forums on the topic.

The Speaker claims that in addition to giving women more political clout, reserved seats will also enhance policymaking by bringing a range of viewpoints to the table, particularly when it comes to topics like gender-based violence, healthcare, education, and social protection.

He has categorically made the case that deepening democracy and making governance more responsive to the interests of all citizens will result from increasing the representation of women in legislative chambers across the nation.

Speaker Abbas has rallied support for this revolutionary reform by working and still working with international development partners, women advocacy organizations, and civil society organizations.

At the launch of a steering committee on the “Reserved Seats for Women Bill” in Abuja on Wednesday, Speaker Abbas urged his male colleagues in the National and State Assemblies to support the bill, citing their higher ideals: “our sons will measure our bravery when faced with a crisis that demands decisive action, and our daughters will read, listen, and watch our debates.”

Speaker Abbas clarified that the overarching goals of these bills are “to open an avenue, not close a door, we are building a bridge, not a barrier.” He reiterated that no current member loses their position. States do not cede their current representation. Rather than shrinking, we are growing. Rather than subtracting, we are adding.

“To my male colleagues, this is crucial,” he added. Your mission is still in effect. It’s still your constituency. What we are looking for is solidarity, not submission, but statesmanship.

Speaker Abbas’s determination to see that traditional institutions are given constitutional roles—a long-overdue acknowledgement of the significance and power of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s governance environment—is equally visionary.

Traditional organizations have long been important for grassroots development, community mobilization, cultural preservation, and conflict resolution.

But as of right now, they function outside of the official constitutional framework, which restricts their power and ability to advance the country. This is different from what was previously the case in all pre-independence constitutions until 1963.

Incorporating traditional leaders into the constitutional framework, according to Speaker Abbas, will enhance local government, promote social cohesion, and support initiatives in fields like civic education, security, and mediation.

The House of Representatives has engaged in high-level discussions with traditional institution leaders under his leadership, and it is currently examining constitutional amendments to specify precisely what advisory, developmental, and moral oversight functions traditional leaders can fulfill in the Nigerian state of the twenty-first century.

Speaker Abbas recently held a legislative roundtable discussion on the inclusion of the roles of traditional institutions in the ongoing alteration to the country’s constitution. He revealed that the 10th National Assembly seeks to create a three-tier traditional institutions that cut across all political spectrums, all while moving with conviction rooted in his royal background and his desire for a more balanced social order where certain responsibilities are legally entrusted to the traditional rulers.

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According to him, the 10th National Assembly is currently considering measures to give traditional institutions some constitutional recognition. Accordingly, they are proposing the following three-tiered Traditional Council structure:

“We should establish a National Council of Traditional Rulers, which will serve as the highest authority to counsel the President on matters pertaining to cultural affairs, national security, and unification.

With regard to matters of development, peacekeeping, and customary laws, the State Council of Chiefs will be the second tier, recognized by state governments under the constitution.

He stated that the Local Government Traditional Council would subsequently formally interact with local governments, particularly in the areas of community development, peacekeeping, and security.

The attempts of Speaker Abbas to orchestrate societal growth and prestige for traditional institutions are grounded in both actual commitments and acts that indicate the same, in addition to his legislative posturing.

His acquisition and distribution of tens of brand-new, cutting-edge sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to traditional rulers throughout the nation’s six geographic zones has cost him a great deal of money.

In addition, he has consistently provided them with parliatives during important times, such as holidays, and he has drawn Federal Government projects to numerous kingdoms and domains to meet the development needs of Nigerians living outside of his own constituency. As a result, he has been awarded numerous traditional titles and continues to do so.

These two measures—reserved seats for women and constitutional recognition of traditional institutions—reflect a larger legislative strategy that prioritizes institutional coherence, inclusive governance, and cultural relevance.

The goal of Speaker Abbas’s advocacy for these reforms is to close the gap between Nigeria’s sociocultural realities and its contemporary political structure.

His pragmatism, equity, and vision serve as the foundation for his leadership. His simultaneous calls for more female political representation and the constitutional inclusion of traditional leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to a Nigeria in which all racial and cultural groups have a say in how the country is run.

Nigeria’s democracy will surely be strengthened and sustainable national development will be promoted if these efforts are realized.