Outcome NGA_D_1.1

By 2027, the people in Nigeria have access to a more accountable, transparent, gender-responsive, and inclusive governance and justice system for the realization of human rights for all especially the most vulnerable population

During the reporting year, women's rights to gender-responsive and more accountable systems increased. This followed the passage of the Prohibition of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Bill by the National Assembly - awaiting assent by the president to become law. State legislators in Kwara and Kaduna adopted the draft GEOB and made commitments to pass it into law. Similarly, the GEOB after numerous efforts passed second reading during the 9th National Assembly in May 2023. Further, following the general elections, 4 women were elected to the Senate out of 109 seats, 17 women were elected to the Federal House of Representatives (HoR) out of 360 seats, and 54 women were elected in the State Houses of Assembly (SHoA) out of 991 seats. The Senate witnessed a decline compared to 8 seats won by women in the 2019 elections, while the HoR and SHoA witnessed a marginal increase from 13 and 44 in the 2019 elections, respectively. Twenty-five (25) women who received support from UN Women were elected to office following the 2023 elections, out of the total of 80 women elected into office. These women benefited from coaching and mentoring sessions on how to run effective political campaigns. Their campaign messages and stories were further amplified by the media, increasing their visibility, and the project further provided a platform for them to engage with community leaders from their constituencies through town hall meetings.

By 2027, the people in Nigeria have access to a more accountable, transparent, gender-responsive, and inclusive governance and justice system for the realization of human rights for all especially the most vulnerable population

In 2025, Nigeria’s governance and justice context remained largely unchanged, with the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index score holding at approximately 0.47, similar to 2024. Structural weaknesses in accountability, transparency, and access to justice continue to constrain inclusive governance outcomes. In response, UN Women Nigeria supported institutional and policy reform pathways to strengthen accountability and gender responsiveness within governance and justice systems, contributing to sustained progress. As a result of the support of the Nigeria Office, one (1) gender-responsive law, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Bill, was formally passed and adopted in Kwara State. It establishes a statutory commission mandated to promote equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination in public governance and administration. A central gender-responsive provision of the law is the institutionalization of a minimum 35% gender quota in appointive positions, which constitutes a temporary special measure aimed at accelerating women’s participation in leadership and public decision-making. The adoption of this law advances gender equality and women’s empowerment by addressing long-standing structural barriers that have limited women’s access to political and public office. Through embedding gender quotas within a legally binding framework, the law creates enforceable obligations on state institutions, contributing to broader equality and non-discrimination objectives. Other gender-responsive legislations supported by UN Women during the reporting year, including the Special Seats for Women Bill ( a bill seeking to create 43 additional seats reserved for women at the National Assembly and 108 additional seats reserved for women at each State House of Assembly), were adopted by the Joint Technical Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives and progressed to a debate at the floor of the Assembly at the national level. In addition, similar DEI Commission bills in other states, while having progressed through committee adoption, public hearings, and legislative debate, had not yet been passed by the legislature and endorsed by the executive.

By 2027, the people in Nigeria have access to a more accountable, transparent, gender-responsive, and inclusive governance and justice system for the realization of human rights for all especially the most vulnerable population

Within the framework of key partnerships, UN Women achieved significant progress toward advancing gender-responsive and inclusive governance in Nigeria. Under an MoU with the National Assembly, UN Women provided legal advocacy and technical assistance, resulting in the inclusion of Reserved Seats for women in the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024, which has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. Additionally, UN Women supported the drafting of a harmonized Gender and Inclusion Bill. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, UN Women facilitated structured engagements and technical discussions, leading to the reintroduction of gender-responsive budgeting language in the 2024/2025 Budget Call Circular.