The proposal also includes three reserved seats for women in each State House of Assembly for 16 years, subject to constitutional approval.
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed that the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the committee had proposed 37 additional seats in each chamber of the National Assembly, with one seat allocated to every state and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also revealed that the committee had proposed three additional seats in each State House of Assembly, all reserved for women, without displacing any existing electoral seats.
The lawmaker made the disclosure on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.
The programme, chaired by Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, had the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
Bamidele attended the event alongside the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Steve Fatoba, and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, among other dignitaries.
“A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly and for related matters is receiving our attention at the National Assembly,” Bamidele said.
He described the proposed legislation as the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building, adding that the constitutional review process had commenced early to ensure a deliberate and inclusive approach.
According to him, the proposal seeks to create 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives, meaning each state and the FCT would have one additional seat in both chambers.
He said the arrangement proposed for the State Houses of Assembly would also provide three additional seats for women in each state, without affecting existing constituencies.
Bamidele explained that the special-seat arrangement was proposed to run for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which it would undergo a comprehensive review.
He described the provision as a sunset clause intended to promote sustainability and allow a more inclusive political culture to develop.
The Senate Leader said the committee was engaging with State Houses of Assembly, whose concurrence is constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to become law.
He maintained that the initiative was not partisan but a matter of national importance, arguing that representative democracy would remain incomplete if women were systematically excluded from decision-making.
Bamidele also acknowledged the advocacy of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, among others, saying it had strengthened the resolve of the 10th National Assembly to pursue greater women’s representation.
He further highlighted legislative efforts aimed at supporting healthcare initiatives, access to education and social protection programmes for vulnerable groups, including women, children and persons with disabilities.
Addressing the need to protect women and children, the lawmaker said laws must respond to emerging threats that cross geographical boundaries and exploit weaknesses in existing systems.
He stressed that justice must go beyond constitutional guarantees and statutory provisions to become accessible, affordable, timely and effective.
“A woman who suffers domestic violence must be able to seek protection without intimidation or social condemnation. A child who experiences abuse must be heard, protected from further harm, and provided with appropriate support,” he said.
Bamidele added that victims must have access to legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial services, while perpetrators should be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.