Nigeria: Lawmakers Propose 74 Additional Seats for Women in Nigeria's National Assembly

What the report says

Nigeria’s National Assembly is considering a constitutional reform that would create 74 additional seats reserved for women across the federal legislature, according to a report published by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica. The proposal was presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who said the plan is part of the broader constitution review process and is aimed at improving women’s participation in politics and governance.

Under the draft arrangement, the plan would add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with each state and the Federal Capital Territory getting one additional seat in each chamber. The committee has also proposed three extra women-only seats in each state House of Assembly, while keeping existing seats intact. Bamidele said the measure is intended to run for 16 years, or four election cycles, before being reviewed.

The proposal comes amid longstanding concerns about the low number of women in Nigeria’s elected bodies, despite women making up nearly half the population. Supporters argue that reserved seats could help overcome barriers such as high campaign costs, party nomination practices, discrimination and gender-based violence. Critics, however, have raised questions about whether special seats could affect equal representation or should be paired with wider political reforms. If adopted, the change would still need approval from state assemblies, which are required for constitutional amendments in Nigeria.