By Sabiu Abdullahi
The National Assembly has proposed creating 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives, alongside three reserved seats for women in each state House of Assembly, as part of efforts to improve female representation in Nigeria’s political system.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Law Week organised by the Ekiti State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
The event, held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children,” brought together lawmakers, 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, said the proposal was part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
Under the proposed arrangement, 37 additional seats would be created in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives, with each state and the Federal Capital Territory entitled to one additional seat in both chambers.
The proposed seats would be reserved for women without affecting the existing constituencies or displacing elected representatives.
Bamidele further disclosed that the proposal included three additional seats exclusively reserved for women in each state House of Assembly.
He said the arrangement was designed to operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which it would undergo a comprehensive review.
According to him, the temporary arrangement would provide women with greater opportunities to participate in legislative decision-making while encouraging a more inclusive political culture.
He explained that the National Assembly had begun the constitutional review process early to allow extensive consultations and consensus-building rather than rushing the exercise.
The Senate Leader stressed that the proposal was not a partisan political initiative but an effort to address the longstanding exclusion of women from political representation.
He, however, noted that the support of state Houses of Assembly was constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law.
Bamidele also called for stronger legal and institutional measures to protect women, children and persons with disabilities, particularly in accessing healthcare, education, social protection and justice.
He said victims of domestic violence and child abuse should have access to legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support, while perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with the law.
The lawmaker urged greater cooperation among the legislature, executive, judiciary, security agencies, religious and traditional institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector to strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups.
He also encouraged FIDA to continue engaging the National Assembly by identifying gaps in existing laws and proposing reforms that would improve the welfare and rights of women and children.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, called for stronger legal frameworks to address emerging forms of abuse, particularly those facilitated by technology and economic vulnerabilities.
She identified cyberstalking, online harassment, deepfake images, impersonation and the exploitation of children through digital platforms as growing concerns requiring coordinated action.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, described Bamidele as well-positioned to address the issues and promote legislative reforms.
Earlier, the FIDA Ekiti State Chairperson, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of women and children, urging stronger laws and institutions to ensure justice remains accessible and effective.
The Daily Reality
