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The National Assembly is considering a proposal to create 74 additional legislative seats exclusively for women as part of efforts to address gender imbalance and improve female representation in Nigeria’s political system.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the proposal on Monday during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.

Bamidele, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the proposed arrangement would introduce 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives.

Under the proposal, each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional seat reserved for women in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The arrangement would increase women’s representation without displacing existing elected lawmakers or removing any constituency from the current legislative structure.

The committee has also proposed three additional seats exclusively for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

According to Bamidele, the initiative forms part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at addressing longstanding barriers limiting women’s participation in governance and political leadership.

READ ALSO: First Lady Seeks South-East Women’s Support For President’s 2027 Re-election

He explained that the proposed special-seat arrangement would operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which a comprehensive review would be conducted to determine its effectiveness.

The Senate Leader said the proposal followed extensive consultations and consensus-building among relevant stakeholders, adding that the National Assembly had commenced the constitutional review process early to ensure a comprehensive exercise.

He expressed confidence that the proposal could secure the necessary legislative support, including approval by state Houses of Assembly, as required under the constitutional amendment procedure.

The initiative is expected to generate further discussions about affirmative action, political inclusion and the role of legislation in addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigerian politics.

Although women constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s population, their presence in elected political offices remains relatively low.

The proposed additional seats are therefore intended to provide a constitutional mechanism for improving women’s participation in decision-making and national governance.

However, the proposal must pass through the constitutional amendment process before it can become law. This includes approval by the required majority of state legislatures.

If adopted, the arrangement would represent a significant change in Nigeria’s legislative structure and provide more opportunities for women to participate directly in lawmaking.

The proposal also places renewed attention on the debate over gender equality, political representation and the need to build a more inclusive democratic system in Nigeria.

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Amarachi Ihesiulo

Ihesiulo Grace Amarachi is a Nigerian journalist, writer and media professional serving as the Editor-in-Chief of TheTraffic.NG, a digital news platform covering national and international affairs. Her editorial interests span politics, business, aviation, health, technology, entertainment, sports and social development. She is committed to credible journalism, insightful reporting and compelling storytelling that informs public discourse and keeps readers abreast of important developments in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

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