Constitutional Review: National Assembly Proposes 74 Additional Seats For Women

The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of ongoing efforts to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s political and governance structures.

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday, saying the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had proposed 37 additional seats each for women in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, further revealed that the committee had proposed three additional seats reserved for women in each State House of Assembly.

He made the disclosure at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter, where he said the proposals were designed to strengthen women’s participation in political leadership and decision-making.

The programme, chaired by Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, was held under 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, Hon. Steve Fatoba, and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, among other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, the Senate Leader said a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly was receiving attention at the National Assembly.

He explained that the proposed arrangement would give each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) one additional female representative in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

According to him, the proposal followed extensive consultations and consensus-building to ensure that the constitutional amendment process was 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,” he said.

On representation at the state level, Bamidele said the committee had also proposed three additional seats for women in each State House of Assembly without displacing any existing electoral seats.

He explained that the proposed arrangement would remain in operation for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review.

Describing the 16-year provision as a sunset clause, Bamidele said it was intended to ensure sustainability while allowing an inclusive political culture to develop organically.

He added that the National Assembly was engaging State Houses of Assembly, whose concurrence is constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law.

The Senate Leader maintained that the initiative was not a partisan undertaking but a constitutional reform aimed at addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in political decision-making.

He argued that a democracy that excludes a significant proportion of its population from decisions affecting their future risks undermining the principles of representative governance.

Bamidele also acknowledged the advocacy of key government figures, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in strengthening the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to women’s political inclusion.

Beyond political representation, he highlighted legislative efforts to improve healthcare delivery, educational opportunities and social protection programmes targeting women, children and persons with disabilities.

On the protection of women and children, the Senate Leader called for stronger legal and institutional responses to emerging threats, including domestic violence, child abuse and other forms of exploitation.

He stressed that justice must go beyond constitutional provisions and statutory guarantees 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.

He further emphasised the need to ensure that victims of abuse have access to legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support, while perpetrators are held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.