DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND LAW-MAKING IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: AN ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE 8TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

This study examined democratic governance and law-making in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic with particular focus on women’s participation in the 8th National Assembly (2015–2019). The research was motivated by the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political and legislative processes despite global advocacy for gender equality and inclusive governance. The study explored the extent of women’s involvement in legislative activities, the challenges limiting their political participation, and the implications of low female representation for democratic governance in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design and relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were obtained through questionnaires and interviews, while secondary data were sourced from textbooks, journal articles, government publications, conference papers, and online materials relevant to democratic governance and women’s political participation. The theoretical framework for the study was anchored on Liberal Feminist Theory, which emphasises equal political opportunities and representation for women in governance. Findings from the study revealed that women’s participation in the 8th National Assembly remained significantly low compared to men, thereby limiting inclusive representation in the legislative process. The study further discovered that socio-cultural beliefs, political violence, financial constraints, party structures, and gender discrimination constituted major barriers to women’s effective participation in politics and law-making in Nigeria. It was also found that the limited number of women in the legislature affected the advancement of gender-sensitive policies and weakened the principles of equality and inclusiveness in democratic governance. The study concluded that although democracy promotes participation and representation, women in Nigeria continue to face systemic obstacles that hinder their active involvement in governance and legislative activities. The study recommended the implementation of stronger gender inclusion policies, political party reforms, public enlightenment on gender equality, financial support mechanisms for female candidates, and the enforcement of affirmative action policies to enhance women’s representation in the National Assembly and strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria.