The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for equal citizenship rights for foreigners married to Nigerian women during his keynote address at the International Legislative Dialogue on Women and the Constitution Amendment Process in Nigeria on Monday.
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The meeting, organized by the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution, aimed to discuss reforms that promote gender equity and provide additional or reserved seats for women in legislative bodies. Currently, Section 26 of the 1999 Constitution (amended) allows the president to confer citizenship on “any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria,” but does not extend the same rights to foreign men married to Nigerian women.
Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of empowering women, stating that their rightful placement is crucial for economic growth. He cited authoritative research showing that women in leadership roles have played a significant role in facilitating stronger economic growth for organizations and countries.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigerian women, an essential part of our nation’s social and economic fabric, secure their rightful place within our governance framework,” Speaker Abbas said. “Empowering women is not only a moral and democratic imperative but also a strategic economic necessity.”
The Speaker highlighted examples of gender inclusion in other African countries, such as Rwanda, South Africa, Namibia, and Senegal, which have taken significant strides toward inclusivity and reshaped their political landscapes. He noted that these countries have demonstrated the profound impact of women’s perspectives on governance and development.
In contrast, only 20 of the 469 seats in the Nigerian National Assembly have been occupied by women since 1999. Speaker Abbas attributed this stark gap to institutional barriers that must be dismantled.
The Speaker directed the Constitution Review Committee to focus on reforms that promote gender equity, including joint ticketing in elections, reserved seats, and conferring equal citizenship rights to foreigners married to Nigerian women. He stressed that reform is a collective responsibility that cannot be achieved through communiqués or promises alone.
The meeting was attended by presiding and principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, female party and forum leaders, gender-based civil society organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps, among others.
As the constitution amendment process continues, lawmakers are advised to contribute to shaping the nation’s future by enriching the policymaking process and working towards actionable outcomes that promote gender equity and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.
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