Bamidele: National Assembly Proposing 74 New Seats For Women.
The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats exclusively reserved for women in Senate and House of Representatives as part of ongoing efforts to address gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political representation.
The proposal, which also provides for three additional seats for women in each of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, is designed to expand women’s participation in legislative decision-making without displacing existing constituencies or elected lawmakers.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the proposal on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.
Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the proposal formed part of the ongoing constitution amendment exercise being undertaken by the 10th National Assembly. He explained that the proposed arrangement would provide 37 additional seats in Senate and another 37 in House of Representatives, ensuring that every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional representative in each chamber. According to him, the proposed special seats are intended to provide women with greater access to elective positions and decision-making platforms, particularly against the background of their historically low representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions. He stated, “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 disclosed that the Constitution Review Committee had also recommended three additional seats for women in each State House of Assembly.
MSEApp News is publishing an original rewrite of this tip for readers, based on reporting associated with Arise News.