The National Assembly has proposed the creation of 74 additional legislative seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives, alongside three reserved seats for women in each state House of Assembly, in a move to promote gender inclusion in Nigeria’s political system.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State chapter.

The event had as its theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District and is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the proposal was aimed at breaking barriers limiting women’s participation in governance and ensuring a more inclusive political system.

He explained that the proposed constitutional amendment would create 37 additional seats each in the Senate and House of Representatives, with one reserved seat for women from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in both chambers.

The proposed seats would be additional to the existing legislative positions and would not displace elected representatives.

The Senate Leader said a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly was receiving attention at the National Assembly.

He described the initiative as the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building, stressing that the early commencement of the constitutional review process was to ensure a comprehensive, deliberate and inclusive exercise.

The event was attended by 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.