Reps to pursue reserved parliamentary seats for PWDs after women’s bill — Abbas

Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced that the chamber will pursue constitutional amendments to create reserved parliamentary seats for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) after the passage of a similar bill for women. The announcement was made during a plenary session in Abuja. The move follows ongoing advocacy by disability rights groups and aims to enhance political representation for an estimated 25 million Nigerians with disabilities. Abbas stated that the bill for women's reserved seats is a priority and will be addressed first, with the PWDs bill to follow. No specific timeline was provided for either bill.

Global Impact

Politically, this move strengthens Nigeria's democratic inclusivity and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 10 (reduced inequalities). Socially, it could empower a marginalized group, potentially reducing stigma and increasing civic participation.