A disability rights organisation, the Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), has urged the National Assembly to ensure the inclusion of women with disabilities in the proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently under review.
The President of the network, Ms Lois Auta, made the appeal in a memorandum submitted during the ongoing Zonal Public Hearings on the constitutional review.
She called for five per cent of the proposed 181 additional legislative seats for women in the National Assembly to be specifically allocated to women with disabilities.
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According to her, the request is aimed at securing genuine representation, equity and constitutional justice.
“Representation is not charity; it is justice. Women with disabilities must have a constitutionally-protected voice in Nigeria’s democracy.
“A minimum of five per cent reserved seats for women with disabilities within the 181 proposed special seats and the use of rights-based and inclusive language in all constitutional and legislative documents,” she said.
Auta also demand for political party reforms to ensure that women with disabilities could lead and contest for political offices.
“We demand accessible political environments, including campaign venues and polling units, and the establishment of a Disability-Inclusive Electoral Support Fund,” she said.
The NWD president called on lawmakers to act with urgency and courage to ensure that seats were reserved for women with disabilities to safeguard inclusive governance for all.
