Constitution Review: N’assembly Considering 74 Additional Seats for Women, says Opeyemi Bamidele

Opeyemi Bamidele, leader of the senate, says the national assembly is considering a proposal to create 74 additional seats for women in the senate and house of representatives as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.

Bamidele also relayed that the constitution review committee has proposed three additional seats for women in each state house of assembly.

He said the proposed seats would be reserved exclusively for women without displacing existing electoral seats.

The senate leader spoke on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the Ekiti state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The event, chaired by Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, had the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children”.

Bamidele, who is vice-chairman of the senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, said the proposal was designed to deepen women’s participation in politics and governance.

“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,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

Bamidele said the national assembly is engaging state houses of assembly to secure their approval, which is required for the constitution amendment to take effect.

He described the proposal as a national reform rather than a partisan initiative, arguing that excluding women from decision-making undermines representative democracy.

“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 said.

The senate leader said the resolve of the 10th national assembly has also been strengthened by advocacy from prominent government figures, including Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady.

He said the legislature is also considering measures to support women, children and persons with disabilities through healthcare initiatives, educational access and social protection programmes.