The Nigeria Lawmakers on Tuesday voted against two bills proposed to empower and to attach special recognition to women in Nigeria.
Out of 91 Lawmakers in the Senate, 58 voted against, while 208 out of 290 lawmakers in the House of Representatives also voted against it.
One of the bills is seeking the creation of one special seat for a woman at the Senate, House of Representatives and the Federal Capital Territory without prejudice to eligibility to contest.
The bill was rejected by senators who voted when it was considered.
It said: “The bill seeks to create a special seat for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and the State Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory reserved solely for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest in the existing Senatorial seats in each State and FCT.”
The second bill also proposed 35% affirmative action for women in political party administration.
Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, who was present on the floor of the House of Representatives to observe the proceedings in an interview after the vote, said the defeated bill was not the end of the agitation for women inclusion in Nigerian politics.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, described the vote as a show of shame.