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Reps to Vote on Special Seats Bill, Others After Recess –Deputy Speaker, Kalu
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…urges Women Groups, Devt Partners, Others to Sustain Advocacy
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that the parliament will vote on the special seats bill alongside other crucial constitutional amendment bills upon resumption of plenary in October, emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy for the Special Seats Bill.
It will be recalled that the National Assembly recently adjourned plenary session for annual vacation to resume in September.
Speaking during a Roundtable Reception on the Reserved Seats For Women Bill organized by The Osasu Show (TOS) with support from the Switzerland Embassy in Abuja on Monday, Kalu who is the sponsor of the all-important piece of legislation for gender inclusion in governance space said that it is not born out of sentiments but current realities to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
He called on the women groups to massively reach out to all the relevant stakeholders and influential people in the country.
He said: “As the sponsor of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, I want to make this abundantly clear: this bill is not born out of sentiment. It is born out of reason, out
of evidence, out of the stubborn facts of our current reality. It is rooted in the
belief that justice delayed is democracy denied.
“Nigeria is a nation of over 220 million people, and nearly half (49.3 percent) of
this population are women. And yet, the number of women who sit at the table of
power in this country is painfully low. In the current 10th National Assembly, only
19 out of 469 legislators are women (just 3.8 percent). In the House of Representatives, there are only 15 women out of 360. In the Senate, only 4 out of 109. Across all 36 states, we have not a single female governor. And in our
State Houses of Assembly (out of 991 seats) only 45 are occupied by women.
That’s a mere 4.5 percent.
“Keep the advocacy alive. Keep doing it, keep lobbying, there’s no time. We don’t have time. It’s our desire to vote on these constitutional review provisions once we are back from recess. That’s to show you there’s no time.
“The people you’re talking to must be people who have influence over those that will vote or the voters themselves. So tell your religious leaders, political big players, the wives of the parliamentarians and so on.
“The language of advocacy should change too. Appeal to them. Reach out to prominent women in this country. Let them come on board. Reach out to influencers, there’s no time. Barely 60 days remaining”.
Revealing that the bill aligns with the legislative agenda of the House and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kalu also appealed to the political parties, the media and Nigerians in general to support the bill, adding that his office is always ready to give the needed technical insights.
“The 10th House of Representatives, under the purposeful leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, has placed inclusion at the centre of its legislative vision. This commitment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which anchors national development on equity, justice, and opportunity. Through progressive policies and appointments, the President has shown a clear intent to disrupt entrenched norms. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is a reflection of this shared resolve and the 10th Assembly is proud to be the legislative catalyst advancing it.
“To our partners in civil society, the international community, and the development sector: your role is indispensable. Join us in equipping, mentoring, and amplifying the voices of the women this bill seeks to empower. Your expertise, advocacy, and collaboration remain vital.
“To political parties: reform must begin within. Open your ranks. Prioritise women not merely as supporters, but as candidates and decision-makers. The strength of our democracy depends on the strength of our internal democratic institutions.
“To the media: shape the national conversation. Tell this story not as tokenism, but as transformation. This bill is not a favour, it is a framework for equity. A nation cannot fly with one wing.
And to the Nigerian people, men and women, young and old, this is your bill.
Support it. Speak for it. Stand behind it. Because when women rise, nations do
not merely progress, they prosper. When women lead, societies heal.
“The Office of the Deputy Speaker stands as a convening platform for all committed to gender-responsive governance. We invite collaboration across sectors to co-design advocacy, mobilise communities, and build consensus. We welcome development partners to offer technical insight, policy guidance, and leadership training. We urge political institutions to work with us to institutionalise inclusion”, Kalu said.
The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Sani II, has died.
The monarch passed away on Thursday in Egypt.
His death has thrown the people of the Gumel Emirate and residents of Jigawa State into mourning, with tributes expected to continue to pour in from across the state and beyond.
The death of the respected traditional ruler is a significant loss to his family, associates and the entire Gumel community. Prayers have been offered for Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.
Prayers were also offered for Allah to grant his family, loved ones and the people of Gumel the strength and patience to bear the loss.
The death of the Emir represents a major loss to the Gumel Emirate, given the important role traditional institutions play in promoting peace, unity, cultural values and community development.
The Gumel Emirate is one of the historic traditional institutions in northern Nigeria, with a rich heritage and longstanding influence in the social and cultural affairs of its people.
As Emir, the late Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Sani II, CON, served as custodian of the traditional institution and provided leadership to the people of the emirate.
His passing is expected to be deeply felt by members of the royal family, traditional title holders, community leaders and residents across the emirate.
United States federal agents have nabbed a podcaster, Azariah Southworth, in Los Angeles over allegations that he threatened to kill US President Donald Trump.
According to New York Post on Thursday, Southworth was taken into federal custody in Los Angeles following an investigation into the alleged threats against Trump.
Southworth is known for hosting the Yass, Jesus podcast and previously hosted the Christian television programme, The Remix. His arrest has brought federal authorities’ attention to statements allegedly made by him concerning the president.
The allegations against Southworth have not been established in court, and details of any criminal charges filed against him were not immediately available in the report. Federal authorities typically investigate threats against the president as potential federal offences.
US law prohibits knowingly and willfully threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict bodily harm on the president. Such cases can result in federal prosecution if investigators determine that a statement meets the legal threshold for a criminal threat.
Federal authorities have pursued similar cases involving alleged threats against Trump in recent years.
The US Department of Justice has previously announced charges and convictions involving people accused of making threats against the president online and through other forms of communication.
Authorities have also stressed in previous cases that an arrest or criminal charge does not establish guilt. Prosecutors are required to prove the allegations in court, while defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
Southworth’s arrest comes amid continued security concerns surrounding threats against Trump and other US public officials. Further details about the allegations, possible charges and Southworth’s next court appearance are expected to emerge as the federal case proceeds.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a city-wide desilting of drainage channels following heavy torrential rainfalls that triggered flash floods across parts of the nation’s capital.
Inspecting the ongoing clearance operations along the Airport Expressway on Thursday, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), said the exercise was directed by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
The directive followed a flash flood that flooded the Airport Expressway on Tuesday.
According to Dauda, the effort is to mitigate flood risks during the peak of the rainy season.
Dauda noted that while recent downpours align with earlier meteorological warnings and climate change trends, the Abuja Master Plan inherently recognises certain areas, including the Airport Expressway axis as flood plains.
He assured residents that while resilient infrastructure was originally built to handle high water volumes, human activities have severely compromised its efficiency.
“Some of these drainage facilities over time have been silted. Part of the cause is residents dumping refuse into drainage channels.
“When rain falls, it washes down polythene bags, waste, and even large objects that block the outlets,” he said.
Dauda highlighted two major human factors aggravating the flash floods: illegal development and widespread infrastructure vandalism.
Exposing a major choke point along the expressway, Dauda pointed to a triple-cell box culvert meant to discharge a powerful stream flowing from the Galadima Roundabout.
He explained that a private developer had illegally constricted the waterway further downstream by constructing retaining walls to expand a personal plot.
“What that causes is that the volume of water that ought to pass no longer passes, causing detention, backflow, and eventual flooding.
“To restore adequate discharge capacity, we must remove the structures built by this developer,” he said.
Dauda also decried the theft of metal gully inlet covers by vandals, which allows large debris to flow directly into underground drains instead of being sieved at the surface.
“When vandals steal these covers, it’s like stealing from yourself as a taxpayer,” he remarked.
To permanently curb the theft, he revealed that the FCDA is exploring replacement materials made from non-recyclable compounds rather than steel or cast iron.
The FCDA boss confirmed that workers were already desilting trapezoidal drains, U-channels, and culvert outlets along the Airport Expressway, with plans to reconstruct damaged points where necessary.
Dauda urged Abuja residents to stop dumping refuse into waterways, warning that government infrastructure can only protect the city if public cooperation is guaranteed.
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