Nigeria’s National Assembly is considering a constitutional amendment that would create 74 additional legislative seats for women at the federal level, alongside three reserved seats in each of the country’s 36 state Houses of Assembly.
The proposal is part of ongoing efforts to address the low representation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions and provide more opportunities for female participation in lawmaking and governance.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the plan on Monday, November 2, during the 2026 Law Week organised by the Ekiti State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, explained that the proposed arrangement would introduce 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives.
Under the proposal, each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would have one additional seat reserved for women in both chambers.
The plan also provides for three additional seats exclusively reserved for women in every state House of Assembly. These positions would be created without removing or displacing existing elected lawmakers.
According to Bamidele, the special-seat arrangement is proposed to operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review to assess its effectiveness.
He described the initiative as a constitutional intervention aimed at improving women's access to political decision-making rather than a partisan political arrangement.
The Senate leader said a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide special legislative seats for women was receiving attention as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
He also disclosed that the National Assembly was engaging state Houses of Assembly to secure their support, noting that their approval would be required before the proposed constitutional changes could take effect.
The proposal comes amid longstanding concerns about the limited number of women occupying elective positions in Nigeria, despite their significant contribution to the country's population and development.
Supporters of reserved legislative seats argue that the arrangement could help address barriers that have historically limited women's participation in politics, including the high cost of elections, discrimination and challenges within political parties.
However, the proposal is not yet law. It must pass through the constitutional amendment process, including the required approval by state legislatures, before implementation.
If approved, the reform would significantly expand the number of legislative seats available to women and introduce a temporary affirmative-action arrangement into Nigeria's political system.
The outcome of the constitutional review will determine whether the proposal becomes part of the country's electoral and legislative framework.