NHRC, CISLAC demand more women in Nigerian leadership
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called for increased women's representation in Nigerian political leadership on International Women's Day. Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu highlighted Nigeria's low female participation, noting only 21 women serve in the National Assembly (4 senators, 17 House reps) and 48 of 991 state lawmakers are women. He emphasized inclusive governance requires women's meaningful participation, calling it a constitutional imperative and sustainable development driver. Ojukwu urged investment in women, protection from violence and exploitation, and implementation of protective laws. CISLAC challenged political parties' lack of commitment to gender balance, demanding transformative legal reforms and institutional changes to accelerate women's political participation. Both groups stressed that without deliberate gender transformation, progress risks erosion.