The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional legislative seats exclusively reserved for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to address the underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political system.
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Ekiti State Chapter.
Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the proposal formed part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
According to him, the proposal would provide 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives.
If approved, every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional female representative in each chamber.
The Senate Leader also disclosed that the Constitution Review Committee had proposed three additional seats reserved for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
He explained that the proposed arrangement would not displace existing lawmakers or affect current electoral constituencies.
Bamidele said the initiative was designed to create more opportunities for women to participate in legislative decision-making and strengthen their representation in governance.
He noted that the proposal followed extensive consultations and consensus-building among relevant stakeholders.
The senator further revealed that the special seats arrangement was expected to operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review.
He described the proposed duration as a sunset clause intended to assess the impact of the initiative and encourage a more inclusive political culture.
Bamidele said the National Assembly was engaging State Houses of Assembly to secure the necessary support for the constitutional amendment, noting that their concurrence was required for the proposal to become law.
He maintained that the initiative was not a partisan political project but a constitutional intervention aimed at addressing the persistent exclusion of women from political leadership.
The Senate Leader also acknowledged the contributions of prominent stakeholders, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, towards promoting greater female participation in governance.
He called for stronger legislative measures to protect women, children and persons with disabilities, particularly through improved access to healthcare, education and social protection.
The proposal, if approved, would significantly expand the number of reserved legislative positions available to women across Nigeria’s national and state assemblies.
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