Stakeholders have renewed calls for stronger policies to boost women’s participation in politics, with labour leader Issa Aremu advocating reserved seats for women in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Speaking in Ilorin during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies and the Development Research and Projects Centre, Aremu said Nigeria must adopt deliberate constitutional and policy reforms to address the persistent under-representation of women in governance.
He noted that proposals have been made for six reserved legislative seats for women across the country’s geopolitical zones, stressing that women—who make up about 51% of the global population—deserve stronger representation in leadership and decision-making.
Aremu also commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring gratuity payments for federal civil servants, following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a new Exit Benefit Scheme that will grant workers 100% of their annual salary as gratuity from January 1, 2026. He described the move as evidence of a labour-friendly administration.
Participants at the event emphasised unity and collaboration among women as key to advancing gender equality. Victoria Agboola, chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress Women Committee in Kwara, urged women to build stronger support networks and mentor younger generations.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment also encouraged women to pursue education, vocational skills and entrepreneurship to achieve economic independence and better understand their workplace rights.
Stakeholders agreed that empowering women politically and economically remains essential for national development, inclusive governance and sustainable growth.
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