The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats for women across the Senate and House of Representatives, alongside three reserved seats for women in each state House of Assembly, as part of efforts to improve women’s representation in Nigeria’s political system.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State chapter.
The event, which focused on the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children,” brought together legal practitioners and other stakeholders.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District and serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, explained that the proposal was designed to address the barriers limiting women’s participation in governance.
He said the proposed constitutional amendment would introduce special legislative seats for women without removing or replacing any existing elected representatives.
Under the arrangement, 37 additional seats would be created in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives. This would give each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory one additional seat in each chamber.
The Senate Leader said the proposal was contained in a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide special seats for women in the National and state Houses of Assembly.
He explained that the initiative followed extensive consultations and consensus-building, noting that the National Assembly had started the constitutional review process early to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive exercise.
Bamidele further disclosed that the proposed amendment included three additional seats reserved for women in each state House of Assembly.
According to him, the arrangement would operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which a comprehensive review would be conducted to assess its effectiveness.
He described the proposed 16-year period as a temporary constitutional arrangement intended to encourage greater female participation in politics and gradually establish a more inclusive political culture.
Bamidele also disclosed that the National Assembly was engaging state Houses of Assembly to secure the necessary approval, noting that their concurrence was constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become effective.
He maintained that the initiative was not politically motivated but aimed at addressing the long-standing exclusion of women from important decision-making processes.
The Senate Leader added that the 10th National Assembly had received support for the initiative from prominent government figures, including the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
He argued that a democratic system that excludes a significant proportion of its population from political decision-making cannot achieve genuine representation.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Steve Fatoba, and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, among other dignitaries.
Beyond women’s political representation, Bamidele highlighted the need for stronger legislation to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities.
He said government interventions should improve access to healthcare, education and social protection programmes for those most at risk.
On the protection of women and children, he called for legal and institutional reforms to address emerging threats, including those that cross national boundaries and exploit weaknesses in existing systems.
He stressed that justice should not remain limited to constitutional provisions and existing laws but must be accessible, affordable, timely and effective for victims of abuse.
Bamidele noted that women experiencing domestic violence should be able to seek protection without intimidation or social stigma, while children who suffer abuse must receive proper protection and support.
He also called for victims to have access to legal assistance, medical treatment and psychosocial services, while perpetrators should be held accountable under the law.
The Senate Leader urged stronger cooperation among the legislature, executive, judiciary, security agencies, social welfare institutions, religious organisations, traditional rulers, civil society groups and the private sector to improve the protection of women and children.
He also encouraged FIDA to strengthen its engagement with the National Assembly by identifying weaknesses in existing laws, recommending legislative changes and monitoring the implementation of government policies and budgetary provisions.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, called for stronger legal and institutional measures to protect women and children against emerging forms of abuse.
Olarinde particularly raised concerns about the misuse of technology and economic vulnerabilities, noting that artificial intelligence and digital platforms had introduced new forms of threats.
She identified cyberstalking, online harassment, deepfake images, impersonation and the exploitation of children as some of the growing challenges requiring urgent attention.
The university administrator called for closer collaboration among government institutions, the judiciary, security agencies, universities, religious and traditional leaders, the media and civil society organisations to address gender-based violence and child abuse.
Also speaking, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, described Bamidele as well-positioned to address emerging challenges affecting women and children and the need for legislative and policy reforms.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of FIDA in Ekiti State, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and children.
She noted that changing social realities continued to create complex challenges for their safety, dignity and fundamental rights, stressing the need to strengthen laws, institutions and collective efforts to ensure that justice remains accessible and responsive to their needs.
Source: Punch
