The National Assembly has proposed 74 additional legislative seats for women in the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to improve female representation in the country’s political system.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the proposal on Monday during 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 proposal formed part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
Under the proposal, 37 additional seats would be created in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives.
Each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would receive one additional seat in each chamber, exclusively reserved for women.
The proposed seats would be added to the existing legislative positions without displacing serving lawmakers or altering current electoral constituencies.
Three Additional Seats for Women in State Assemblies
The Constitution Review Committee has also proposed three additional seats reserved for women in each of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly.
Bamidele said the initiative followed extensive consultations and consensus-building among stakeholders.
He described the proposed legislation as a deliberate effort to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions.
According to him, the proposed arrangement would remain in place for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before undergoing a comprehensive review.
The Senate Leader described the 16-year provision as a sunset clause designed to promote inclusion while allowing a more balanced political culture to develop.
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.”
National Assembly Seeks States’ Approval
Bamidele disclosed that the National Assembly had commenced engagements with State Houses of Assembly to secure the necessary support for the proposed constitutional amendment.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, any constitutional alteration requires approval by at least two-thirds of members of each chamber of the National Assembly and two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.
He expressed confidence that the proposal would receive the required support from state lawmakers.
The Senate Leader maintained that the initiative was not driven by partisan interests but by the need to strengthen representative democracy.
He argued that excluding a significant proportion of the population from political decision-making undermines democratic representation.
Bamidele Calls for Stronger Protection for Women and Children
Beyond political representation, the Senate Leader called for stronger legislative interventions to improve healthcare, education and social protection for women, children and persons with disabilities.
He also stressed the need for laws and institutions to provide better protection against domestic violence and child abuse.
Bamidele said 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.
He added that justice must be accessible, affordable, timely and effective rather than existing only in constitutional provisions and statute books.
