National Assembly considers 74 extra seats for women in constitution review
Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, says the national assembly is considering a proposal to introduce 74 additional seats for women across the senate and house of representatives under the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.
He added that the constitution review committee had also recommended three additional seats for women in every state house of assembly.
According to Bamidele, the proposed positions would be exclusively reserved for women and would not affect the existing seats occupied through elections.
He made this known on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Law Week organised by the Ekiti state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
The event, chaired by Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, was held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children”.
Bamidele, who serves as vice-chairman of the senate committee reviewing the 1999 constitution, said the proposal aims to increase women’s representation in political leadership and governance.
“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.
“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.
“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 explained that the national assembly was consulting state houses of assembly to obtain the necessary approval for the proposed constitutional amendment to become effective.
Bamidele described the initiative as a nationwide reform rather than a political move, noting that leaving women out of important decisions weakens 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.
He also said the 10th national assembly had received further encouragement for the proposal through the advocacy of key government officials, including Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady.
According to him, lawmakers are also looking at policies that would improve access to healthcare, education and social protection for women, children and persons with disabilities.
