Minister Hajiya Imaan Slams Male-Dominated Parliament, Says Reserved Seats Bill Will Expose Nigeria’s Fake Democracy

Hajiya Imaan describes the Reserved Seats Bill as more than a legislative proposal but a historic attempt to confront Nigeria’s deeply rooted patriarchal political system. For decades, Nigerian women have been politically marginalized, holding less than 7% of elective positions despite making up nearly half of the population. According to her, the bill offers a “national correction” to centuries of political exclusion.

Hajiya Imaan insists that democracy cannot thrive where women remain spectators instead of active decision-makers. She points to countries like Rwanda and South Africa, where reserved seats for women transformed governance, urging Nigeria to take the bold step of aligning with global best practices in political inclusivity.

Hajiya Imaan Confronts Male-Dominated Parliament

Hajiya Imaan openly challenges the National Assembly, stating that resistance to the Reserved Seats Bill is rooted in fear of losing political dominance. Many male legislators have argued that merit should determine political success, not gender quotas. She counters by stressing that women have proven merit across sectors but face systemic exclusion in politics.

Hajiya Imaan says Nigeria’s parliament must decide whether it wants to remain a boys’ club or evolve into a truly representative democracy. She warns that rejecting the bill would signal to the world that Nigeria is comfortable with silencing half its citizens.

Hajiya Imaan Warns of Global Embarrassment if Bill Fails

Hajiya Imaan cautions that Nigeria risks global embarrassment if it continues to rank among the lowest in women’s political participation. While countries like Senegal boast over 40% female lawmakers, Nigeria lags behind with a paltry figure below 10%. Such statistics, she says, reveal an uncomfortable truth about Nigeria’s commitment to equality.

Hajiya Imaan emphasizes that international partners are watching closely, and Nigeria’s credibility as a democratic nation could be undermined if lawmakers reject the bill. She frames the debate not just as a local issue but as a test of Nigeria’s global standing in gender equity.

Hajiya Imaan Links Gender Imbalance to Bad Governance

Hajiya Imaan argues that Nigeria’s endless cycles of corruption, insecurity, and poor governance are partly linked to the absence of women in decision-making. She notes that countries with higher female political representation tend to record stronger accountability, lower corruption, and greater emphasis on social development.

Imaan challenges those who say Nigeria cannot afford gender quotas, asserting instead that Nigeria cannot afford continued governance without women’s voices. To her, the bill is not a favor to women but an urgent restructuring of democracy for national survival.

Hajiya Imaan Faces Criticism from Political Power Brokers

Imaan is not without opposition, as powerful political elites have accused her of attempting to impose a “gender dictatorship.” Some argue that the Reserved Seats Bill could lead to tokenism, with women reduced to filling numbers rather than exercising genuine power.

Imaan rejects these criticisms as deliberate distractions, noting that no one questioned tokenism when men dominated 90% of the political space. She calls such arguments hypocritical, insisting that true democracy demands intentional reforms to dismantle historical barriers.

Imaan Calls on Nigerian Women to Mobilize

Imaan urges Nigerian women across all regions, professions, and classes to unite and demand passage of the Reserved Seats Bill. She emphasizes that women must not wait for political charity but should push aggressively for structural change. According to her, silence would mean consent to continued political erasure.

Imaan concludes that this bill is not about women versus men but about saving Nigeria’s democracy from collapsing under the weight of exclusion. She says history will judge lawmakers not by their speeches but by whether they had the courage to vote for fairness.