The National Assembly has proposed creating 74 additional legislative seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives, alongside three reserved seats in each state House of Assembly, as part of ongoing efforts to address the underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political system.
The proposal, if approved, would add 37 seats to each chamber of the National Assembly, giving every state and the Federal Capital Territory one additional seat in both the Senate and House of Representatives. It would also provide three special seats for women in each of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the proposal on Monday 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, said the proposed seats would be created without displacing existing elected lawmakers.
He explained that the arrangement for state assemblies would run for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review.
According to him, the committee is considering a constitutional amendment bill to provide special legislative seats for women at both national and state levels.
“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.
He described the proposal as the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building, adding that the 10th National Assembly had begun its constitutional review process early to ensure a thorough and inclusive exercise.
Bamidele said the initiative was not a partisan project but a constitutional intervention aimed at addressing women’s exclusion from political decision-making.
He argued that a representative democracy should provide opportunities for women to participate in decisions affecting their lives and the country.
The Senate Leader said the committee was engaging state Houses of Assembly to secure their concurrence, which is constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become effective.
He also acknowledged the advocacy of senior government figures, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in strengthening support for the initiative.
Beyond political representation, Bamidele called for stronger legislative measures to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities. He identified healthcare, educational access and social protection as areas requiring sustained government intervention.
On the protection of women and children, he said Nigeria’s legal framework must respond to emerging threats and ensure that victims of abuse can access justice without intimidation or unnecessary barriers.
He stressed that survivors should 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.
“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.
The event was attended by 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.
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