The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will vote on the special seats bill alongside others when the parliament resumes from its annual recess.

Speaking during a roundtable reception on the Reserved Seats For Women Bill, organised by The Osasu Show, with support from the Swiss Embassy in Abuja, on Monday, Kalu, who is the sponsor of the bill, said the proposed legislation is a function of the dictates of current political realities.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, on Monday, Kalu noted that, “As the sponsor of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, I want to make this abundantly clear: this bill is not borne out of sentiment.

It is borne out of reason, out of evidence, out of the stubborn facts of our current reality.

“It is rooted in the belief that justice delayed is democracy denied.

“Nigeria is a nation of over 220 million people, and nearly half (49.3 per cent) of this population are women. Yet, the number of women who sit at the table of power in this country is painfully low.

“In the current 10th National Assembly, only 19 out of 469 legislators are women (just 3.8 per cent).

“In the House of Representatives, there are only 15 women out of 360. In the Senate, only four out of 109. Across all 36 states, we have not a single female governor.

“In our state Houses of Assembly (out of 991 seats), only 45 are occupied by women. That’s a mere 4.5 per cent,” he said.

Kalu urged the women to keep the advocacy alive.