Deputy Speaker Kalu Seeks U.S. Partnership on Gender Equity and Electoral Reforms
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called for a strategic partnership with the United States government to support Nigeria’s efforts in advancing gender equity and implementing electoral reforms,leadership reports.
Kalu made the appeal during a meeting with a delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, led by Political Counsellor David Frost and Cassandra Carrony, at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
As Chair of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Kalu outlined three key areas where U.S. collaboration is needed: technical expertise, advocacy, and capacity building.
ALSO READ: ‘N109.4bn fraud’: EFCC didn’t present some of my statements, ex-accountant-general Ahmed…
He emphasized the importance of sharing best practices on gender-responsive electoral systems, strengthening stakeholder engagement with civil society, media, and political parties, and co-developing a women’s legislative leadership programme to train future female lawmakers.
“We are seeking the support of the U.S. Embassy in various areas—particularly technical assistance and comparative insights into successful gender-responsive electoral systems,” Kalu said. “Let’s learn from your successes. We want to adopt proven structures and adapt them to reflect our local realities. This mission is not symbolic; it is focused on real impact. To achieve that, we must empower those who will drive change—and that requires strategic partnership.”
He also revealed that the constitution review committee is considering assigning formal roles to traditional rulers to enhance national unity and cohesion.
Kalu highlighted that the committee is prioritizing increased women’s participation in governance, along with reforms to the judiciary, local government, and youth inclusion.
He drew attention to the stark underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political landscape, noting that women currently occupy only 4% of legislative seats nationwide. In states like Kano and Sokoto, there is not a single female lawmaker in the State Assembly.
“Nigeria’s democracy is incomplete as long as half of its population—its women—remain on the margins. This isn’t just a representational failure; it’s a matter of justice,” he stated.
To address this imbalance, Kalu said the committee has proposed the creation of Special Seats for women across federal and state legislatures. The proposed Special Seats Bill (HB 1349) is a temporary measure spanning 16 years and aims to reserve 182 additional seats exclusively for women—37 in the Senate, 37 in the House of Representatives, and 108 across State Assemblies.
“This bill directly tackles systemic barriers such as financial exclusion, electoral violence, and entrenched patriarchal norms by creating women-only constituencies,” he explained.
He further stressed the need for broad public participation and urged continued collaboration with the U.S. to ensure that Nigeria’s constitutional reforms deliver fairness, security, and prosperity.
“Our constitutional review is more than a legislative task—it is a moral covenant with future generations. With the support of the U.S. Embassy, we can shape a constitution that stands as a beacon of equity, security, and progress,” Kalu added.
Earlier, the U.S. delegation expressed interest in deepening cooperation with the Deputy Speaker’s office on the constitutional review process.
“We’re here to explore continued collaboration and maintain the strong connection we’ve built over the years,” the delegation said.
