A new bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives seeking to amend Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution to create six special seats dedicated to women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), aimed at increasing their representation in Nigeria’s legislative body.
The bill, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” was presented for a first reading at Wednesday’s plenary session. Sponsored by House Spokesperson Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti, APC), the proposed amendment would expand the total number of seats in the House from 360 to 366, reserving the six additional seats exclusively for women and PWDs.
Under the proposed amendment, the special seats would be equally distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, providing one representative from each group per region. Candidates for these seats would need to fulfil the same qualifications as standard representatives in the House. Elections for the special interest seats would follow a structured electoral college system comprising members from each group’s National Associations, engaging voters from local and regional levels in a multi-tiered process.
If passed, the bill would allow representatives elected to these special seats to serve the same tenure and receive the same benefits as their fellow House members.
Rotimi emphasized the bill’s intention to strengthen representation for women and individuals with disabilities, who often face significant hurdles in accessing political office. “Including these special seats ensures that the voices of underrepresented groups are not only heard but also actively contribute to shaping a balanced and inclusive legislative framework for Nigeria,” he stated.
In related news, House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen recently advocated for a constitutional amendment to mandate legislative seats for women and to secure their participation on joint tickets in executive roles.
Highlighting the urgency of these reforms, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) recently expressed concern over the low representation of women in Nigeria’s National Assembly, which stands at less than 10%. During a town hall meeting in Sagamu, Ogun State, Titilayo Daniel, a representative from NILDS, addressed over 100 grassroots female politicians on the barriers faced by women in political spaces, pointing out, “Women constitute less than 10% of the National Assembly, meaning that over half of Nigeria’s population is underrepresented in essential decision-making bodies. It’s a concerning statistic, particularly when compared to other African nations like Rwanda, where women hold 61.3% of parliamentary seats.”
Daniel also noted that Nigerian women encounter numerous obstacles to political involvement, including structural limitations and restrictive laws, underscoring the importance of legislative reforms to address these disparities.
