NASS Considering Proposal To Create 74 Seats For Women, Says Bamidele

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Monday disclosed that the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) had proposed the creation of 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives

Bamidele, also Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, further revealed that the committee had proposed three additional seats in each State House of Assembly, all specifically reserved for women, without displacing any existing electoral seats.

He made this disclosure at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter on Monday, noting that the proposals were designed to deepen the inclusion of women in the country’s politics and governance process.

Ekiti FIDA, chaired by Mrs. Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, organised the programme with the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”

Bamidele attended the programme alongside the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Steve Fatoba, and Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, among others.

“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 said.

He further explained the centerpiece of the legislative initiative, which, according to him, was designed to create special seats for women at the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly under the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.

He added that the legislative initiative “is the fruit of extensive consultation and consensus-building.

“It is why we commenced the constitutional amendment process early, ensuring that this is not a rushed, haphazard endeavour but a deliberate, inclusive, and thorough reform.

“The proposal, as it stands, is meticulous in its design. It seeks to add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 seats in the House of Representatives. This suggests that if finally approved, each state of the federation, including FCT, will have one additional seat in each of the Houses of the National Assembly,” he added.

Bamidele further revealed that the constitution review committee “has already proposed three additional seats for each state House of Assembly, all specifically reserved for women, without displacing any existing electoral seats.

“This arrangement is proposed to run for a period of 16 years, four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review. This is a sunset clause designed to ensure sustainability and to allow for the organic development of a more inclusive political culture,” the senator said.

“We are actively and strategically engaging with the State Houses of Assembly, as their concurrence is a constitutional sine qua non for bringing this reform to fruition. However, let me add a crucial point that speaks to the very essence of our democratic journey and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Bamidele further noted that the special seat initiative “is not a partisan endeavour” but “a historic imperative”.

“The rationale is anchored on a simple, yet profound, principle of constitutional law: the foundational precept of representative democracy,” he said. “A democracy that systematically excludes over half of its population from the decision-making tables that determine their futures is, at best, a flawed democracy and, at worst, a veiled oligarchy.”

He added that the resolve of the 10th National Assembly was further galvanized by advocacy from the highest levels of government, including the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“We were mindful of the reality that the state must intervene to provide a robust safety net where the market and tradition fail.

“This recognition is translated into legislative support for healthcare initiatives, educational access, and social protection programmes that are meticulously targeted at the most vulnerable demographics: our women, our children, and persons with disabilities,” Bamidele added.

Also emphasising the imperative of protecting women and children at the programme, he noted that the country’s laws should respond to emerging threats that cut across geographical boundaries and exploit weaknesses in the existing system.

The lawmaker added that justice should be more than “a promise merely expressed in the Constitution or a provision enshrined in our statute books” but “must be accessible, affordable, timely, and effective”.

“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,” Bamidele added.

“Victims must have access to legal assistance, medical care, and psychosocial services, while perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.”