Back to Africa Check

What share of Nigeria’s political posts is occupied by women?

Nigeria is a signatory to the 1995 United Nations’ Beijing declaration which requires that 35% of political posts be reserved for and occupied by women. The country has however never met this provision. 


Women hold only 3.6% of the seats in Nigeria’s lower house of representatives, compared to the average of 25% in sub-Saharan Africa. This is according to 2021 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union of the United Nations (UN). 

More facts

For reading our fact-checks!

Did you know that our work is free to read and share? Support our work to continue reading.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Support independent fact-checking in Africa.