National Assembly considering 74 additional seats for Women

The National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to address women’s underrepresentation in Nigeria’s political system.

The proposal comprises 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory expected to have one additional seat in each chamber.

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.

Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the committee had also proposed three additional seats in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, exclusively reserved for women.

He explained that the proposed seats would be additional to existing legislative seats and would not displace any serving or existing electoral constituencies.

Speaking at the event themed ‘Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children,’ Bamidele said the proposal was receiving attention as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

He said, “A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly and for related matters is receiving our attention at the National Assembly.”

Explaining the details of the proposal, the Senate Leader said it was the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building among stakeholders.

“The proposal, as it stands, is meticulous in its design. It seeks to add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 seats in the House of Representatives. This suggests that if finally approved, each state of the federation, including the FCT, will have one additional seat in each of the Houses of the National Assembly,” he said.

Bamidele further disclosed that the proposed special seats arrangement would operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which it would be subjected to a comprehensive review.

He said, “The Constitution Review Committee has already proposed three additional seats for each State House of Assembly, all specifically reserved for women, without displacing any existing electoral seats.

“This arrangement is proposed to run for a period of 16 years, four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review. This is a sunset clause designed to ensure sustainability and to allow for the organic development of a more inclusive political culture.”

On the legislative process, Bamidele said the committee was engaging state Houses of Assembly to secure the necessary approval for the proposed constitutional amendment.

Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, an alteration to the Constitution requires the support of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, in addition to the approval of two-thirds of members of each chamber of the National Assembly.

He expressed confidence that the proposal would secure the required state-level support.

“We are actively and strategically engaging with the State Houses of Assembly, as their concurrence is a constitutional sine qua non for bringing this reform to fruition,” he said.

The Senate Leader described the proposal as a non-partisan effort to address the limited representation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions.

According to him, a democratic system that excludes a significant proportion of its population from decision-making cannot achieve genuine representation.

He said, “The special seat initiative is not a partisan endeavour. It is a historic imperative. The rationale is anchored on a simple, yet profound, principle of constitutional law: the foundational precept of representative democracy.

“A democracy that systematically excludes over half of its population from the decision-making tables that determine their futures is, at best, a flawed democracy and, at worst, a veiled oligarchy.”

Bamidele added that advocacy from the highest levels of government, including the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, had further strengthened the National Assembly’s resolve to pursue the initiative.

He also highlighted other legislative interventions aimed at improving the welfare and protection of women, children and persons with disabilities, particularly in healthcare, education and social protection.

On access to justice, the Senate Leader said laws and judicial institutions must respond to emerging threats against women and children, stressing that justice should go beyond constitutional provisions to become accessible to victims.

“Justice should be more than a promise merely expressed in the Constitution or a provision enshrined in our statute books. Rather, it must be accessible, affordable, timely, and effective.

“A woman who suffers domestic violence must be able to seek protection without intimidation or social condemnation. A child who experiences abuse must be heard, protected from further harm, and provided with appropriate support,” he said.

He added that victims of abuse must have access to legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support, while perpetrators should be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.

Bamidele attended the event alongside Steve Fatoba, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, and Adeoye Aribasoye, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, among other dignitaries.