NASS proposes 74 additional seats for women

The National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Leader of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday, revealing that the proposal seeks to add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, alongside three additional seats reserved for women in each State House of Assembly.

Senator Bamidele made the disclosure in Ekiti State during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), that the 10th National Assembly is committed to addressing gender disparity in national politics.

“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 stated.

He revealed that the special seat arrangement is proposed to last for a period of 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review, which has already received support from the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The Senate Leader stated that the National Assembly is engaging with the State Houses of Assembly to ensure the bill scales through.

Speaking on the necessity of protecting vulnerable demographics, Bamidele urged authorities to ensure justice systems are accessible, affordable, and timely.

“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.