The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional legislative seats exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to improve women’s political representation in Nigeria.
The proposal comprises 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, while three additional seats reserved for women have also been proposed in each state House of Assembly.
The Leader of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.
He said the proposals were designed to deepen women’s participation in politics and governance without displacing any existing electoral seats.
The programme, organised by Ekiti FIDA under the chairmanship of Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, had the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
Bamidele attended the event alongside the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Steve Fatoba, and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, among other dignitaries.
“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,” Bamidele said.
Explaining the proposed constitutional amendment, the senator said the initiative was the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building among stakeholders.
He said the National Assembly had commenced the constitutional amendment process early to ensure that the proposed reforms were deliberate, inclusive and comprehensive.
“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 FCT, will have one additional seat in each of the Houses of the National Assembly,” he said.
Bamidele further disclosed that the Constitution Review Committee had proposed three additional seats for women in each state House of Assembly, without displacing any existing electoral seats.
He said the arrangement was proposed to last for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which a comprehensive review would be conducted.
“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,” he said.
The Senate leader added that the committee was engaging with state Houses of Assembly, whose approval is constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law.
He described the special seats initiative as a non-partisan effort and a historic necessity for strengthening Nigeria’s representative democracy.
“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,” he said.
Bamidele also acknowledged the advocacy of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and other stakeholders in advancing women’s political inclusion.
He said the National Assembly recognised the need for government intervention through legislative measures to address inequalities affecting women, children and persons with disabilities.
According to him, this commitment has informed legislative support for healthcare initiatives, access to education and social protection programmes targeting vulnerable groups.
Addressing the broader issue of justice and the protection of women and children, the lawmaker said Nigerian laws must respond to emerging threats that transcend geographical boundaries and exploit weaknesses in existing systems.
He maintained that justice should go beyond constitutional promises and provisions in statutory laws to become 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.
“Victims must have access to legal assistance, medical care, and psychosocial services, while perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.”
