The Representation Crisis: What Nigeria’s Parliamentary Gender Gap Really Means
Representation is the backbone of democracy. It shapes whose realities inform laws, whose needs are prioritised, and whose voices influence national direction. In Nigeria, that backbone is weak. Women—who make up roughly half of the population—remain largely excluded from the country’s highest law-making body, the Nigeria National Assembly.
In the 10th Assembly, women occupy about 4 per cent of parliamentary seats. Out of 469 lawmakers, only around 20 are women—four in the Senate and sixteen in the House of Representatives. By global standards, this places Nigeria among the lowest-ranking countries for women’s representation in national legislatures.
Nigeria Versus the World
Nigeria’s figures stand in sharp contrast to both global and regional trends. Worldwide, women hold about 27 per cent of parliamentary seats on average. Across Africa, the average is around 26 per cent—still far from parity, but significantly higher than Nigeria’s performance.
Some African countries have moved much further ahead:
Rwanda: Women make up over 60 per cent of parliament, the highest proportion globally.
South Africa: Women hold about 45 per cent of seats.
Namibia: Female representation exceeds 40 per cent.
Senegal: Women account for over 40 per cent of legislators.
Against this backdrop, Nigeria’s 4 per cent is not just low—it is an outlier.
A Parliament That Does Not Reflect Its People
The gap is even more pronounced at the sub-national level. In several states, women are entirely absent from state houses of assembly. This means decisions affecting education, healthcare, security, and social welfare are often taken without women’s direct input—even though women are among those most affected by policy failure.
This disconnect weakens democratic legitimacy. When half the population is barely represented, parliament cannot credibly claim to speak for the nation.
Why Representation Matters
Gender representation is not about symbolism. Evidence from multiple democracies shows that women legislators are more likely to prioritise legislation on healthcare, education, social protection, child welfare, and gender-based violence. These are not “women’s issues”; they are core development issues.
In Nigeria, where maternal mortality remains high, economic inequality is deep, and gender-based violence persists, the absence of women lawmakers has real policy consequences. Issues affecting everyday life struggle to gain sustained legislative traction.
Structural Barriers, Not Lack of Capacity
Nigeria’s gender gap is often misinterpreted as a lack of interest or competence among women. In reality, the barriers are structural. Politics is costly, competitive, and shaped by male-dominated networks. Women face limited access to campaign finance, discriminatory party nomination processes, cultural resistance, and, in some cases, intimidation and violence.
These obstacles systematically disadvantage women long before ballots are cast.
Lessons From Other Countries
Countries that have improved women’s representation did not rely on chance. Many adopted deliberate measures—such as gender quotas, reserved seats, or enforceable party rules—to correct historical exclusion. Rwanda’s success, for example, is rooted in constitutional quotas and strong political commitment.
Nigeria has debated similar reforms, including proposals for special seats for women. So far, these efforts have stalled, reflecting resistance within the political establishment rather than a lack of viable models.
The Cost of Exclusion
A parliament that excludes women undermines democracy and development. Representation builds trust in institutions and improves policy outcomes. Economically, countries with higher female political participation tend to invest more in human capital—health, education, and social welfare—key drivers of long-term growth.
Nigeria’s challenges are too complex to be addressed with half its population marginalised from decision-making.
More Than a Women’s Issue
Fixing Nigeria’s parliamentary gender gap is not about favouring women over men. It is about fairness, effectiveness, and legitimacy. A legislature that mirrors society is better equipped to govern it.
Until women are meaningfully included in Nigeria’s law-making process, the country’s democracy will remain incomplete—representative in name, but not in reality.