NASS proposes 74 new seats for women in Senate, Reps — one per state
The National Assembly's Constitution Review Committee has proposed creating 74 additional legislative seats reserved for women — 37 in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives — meaning one extra seat per state (including the FCT) in each chamber. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced this Monday at the FIDA Ekiti Law Week, stating the bill also proposes three women-only seats in every state House of Assembly without displacing existing constituencies.
The arrangement would run for 16 years (four electoral cycles) before a mandatory review, a sunset clause designed to foster organic inclusive political culture. Passage requires concurrence from state Houses of Assembly, which Bamidele says federal lawmakers are already engaging strategically.
Women make up nearly half of Nigeria's population but hold a tiny fraction of legislative seats. Supporters argue reserved seats address structural barriers: prohibitive election costs, party gatekeeping, gender-based violence. Critics question whether quotas undermine equal representation or create a separate class of legislators.
The proposal now moves through the constitutional amendment process — National Assembly passage followed by approval from at least 24 state assemblies. If enacted, it would be the most significant expansion of women's political representation since 1999.
Will reserved seats actually shift legislative priorities on healthcare, education, and gender-based violence, or will party dynamics dilute their independence?