N’Assembly Proposes 74 Additional Legislative Seats for Women

The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional legislative seats for women at the federal level as part of efforts to improve female representation in Nigeria’s political system. The proposal, which forms part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, would create 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives. Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ekiti State Chapter. Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, explained that the proposed seats would be reserved exclusively for women without displacing existing elected representatives. Under the arrangement, each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional female representative in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives. The proposal also includes three additional seats reserved for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, bringing the total number of proposed special seats across the federal and state legislatures to 182. Speaking at the event, Bamidele said the proposed constitutional amendment was already receiving attention at the National Assembly. “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,” he said. He explained that the proposal followed extensive consultations and consensus-building, adding that lawmakers had commenced the constitutional review process early to allow for a thorough examination of the proposed changes. According to him, the special seats would provide women with additional opportunities to participate in legislative decision-making while allowing the country to assess the impact of the arrangement over time. Proposal to Run for 16 Years Bamidele disclosed that the proposed arrangement for the State Houses of Assembly would operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review. He described the provision as a sunset clause intended to ensure that the intervention would be assessed after a defined period. The proposal is designed to increase women's participation in legislative institutions without removing or reducing the existing constituencies represented by elected lawmakers. Bamidele said the National Assembly was engaging with the State Houses of Assembly because their approval was constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law. He added that the initiative was not a partisan political project but an intervention aimed at addressing the limited representation of women in Nigeria's democratic institutions. First Lady's Advocacy and Women's Representation The Senate Leader also acknowledged the advocacy of prominent government figures, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in strengthening support for greater female participation in governance. He argued that a representative democracy should provide opportunities for different sections of society to participate in decisions affecting their lives. “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. Nigeria has historically recorded low numbers of women in elective legislative positions, with the issue attracting repeated calls for constitutional and electoral reforms. A similar special seats proposal was considered in the House of Representatives in July 2024, when lawmakers debated a bill seeking additional positions for women in the federal and state legislatures. Constitutional Approval Still Required Despite the latest announcement, the proposed special seats have not yet become law. Constitutional amendments require approval by at least two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the National Assembly, followed by approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. The National Assembly has already advanced its broader 2026 constitutional review process to the state legislatures, transmitting the proposed amendments for consideration in September. Bamidele said lawmakers were strategically engaging the state assemblies to secure the necessary support for the women's special seats proposal. He also highlighted the need for stronger legal protections for vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities. According to him, legislative reforms must translate into practical access to healthcare, education, legal assistance and social protection. He stressed that victims of domestic violence and child abuse should be able to access justice without intimidation, while perpetrators should be held accountable in accordance with due process. The proposed special seats initiative is expected to remain part of the broader constitutional review process as lawmakers seek to address women's representation in Nigeria's legislative institutions.