Reps push for 15% female representation in armed forces

The House of Representatives has taken a step towards gender inclusivity in Nigeria’s military by passing for second reading, a bill seeking to mandate at least 15 percent female representation in the enlistment, recruitment, and appointment of service personnel across the Armed Forces.

The bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004…” (HB.1719) is sponsored by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara (Lagos, APC).

The proposed legislation which seeks to mainstream gender responsiveness in all facets of military operations and administration scaled second reading on Wednesday.

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Leading the debate on the bill, Ogbara said the proposed legislation aimed to correct the historic underrepresentation of women in the armed services, promote inclusivity, and uphold Nigeria’s commitments to international conventions on gender equality.

She noted that beyond the 15 percent quota, the bill also mandated the Armed Forces to implement and maintain gender-responsive compliance programme across critical areas, including recruitment, training, accommodation, logistics, operational duties, postings, marital status considerations, and disciplinary actions.

“The essence of this amendment is to ensure that our military institutions reflect the values of equity, fairness, and inclusiveness, which are cornerstones of democratic governance,” Ogbara said.

A key provision of the bill also proposes the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Armed Forces to monitor gender compliance and maintain disaggregated data on personnel, helping to track progress and enforce accountability.

The bill was unanimously supported by members during the debate and was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative action.

If passed into law, the amendment is expected to reshape Nigeria’s military landscape by fostering a more inclusive and gender-sensitive institution, in line with global best practices.