The National Assembly has introduced a constitutional amendment seeking to create 74 additional legislative seats strictly for women across both chambers of parliament. Under the proposal, three extra seats will also be allocated exclusively to women in every state legislature across Nigeria.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed this in Ekiti State during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers, according to Punch. The gathering was held under the theme, "Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children."
If the amendment bill passes, 37 new seats will be added to the Senate and 37 to the House of Representatives. This ensures that every state, alongside the Federal Capital Territory, receives one extra female seat in each federal legislative chamber without removing any current lawmaker from office.
Speaking on the structure of the proposal, Bamidele explained that the three reserved seats in each state assembly would run for 16 years. This period covers four general election cycles before being subjected to a comprehensive review to determine its lasting impact on the nation's political landscape.
Bamidele, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, pointed out that lawmakers have already begun extensive discussions with state assemblies. The approval of state lawmakers remains a mandatory requirement before any constitutional change can take effect.
He noted that excluding women from critical leadership spaces hurts the core idea of representative governance, stressing that the reform is not driven by partisan motives. The senator also credited advocacy from high-ranking figures, such as First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, for bolstering the 10th National Assembly's determination to push the bill forward.
The event in Ekiti was attended by prominent officials, including Steve Fatoba, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, and Adeoye Aribasoye, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
