The National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to increase female representation in Nigeria’s political system.
The proposal includes 37 new seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory expected to have one additional seat in each chamber if the amendment is approved.
The Leader of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.
Bamidele also said the committee had proposed three additional seats in each state House of Assembly, all reserved for women, without removing or displacing any existing electoral seats.
He explained that the proposals formed part of a constitutional amendment bill seeking to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
According to the senator, the arrangement is proposed to last for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which it would undergo a comprehensive review.
Bamidele said the initiative followed extensive consultations and consensus-building, adding that the committee began the constitutional review process early to allow for a thorough and inclusive examination of the proposals.
He also disclosed that the committee was engaging state Houses of Assembly to secure their concurrence, which is constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law.
Describing the initiative as non-partisan, Bamidele said it was intended to address the underrepresentation of women in political decision-making.
He added that advocacy from different levels of government, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had strengthened the National Assembly’s resolve to pursue the proposal.
The senator also called for stronger legal and institutional protection for women and children, particularly against domestic violence, abuse and other emerging threats.
He said justice should not be limited to constitutional provisions or laws but should be accessible, affordable, timely and effective.
Bamidele added that victims of abuse 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.
The FIDA Ekiti event, chaired by Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, was held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
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