# Nigeria Proposes 74 Women's Seats in National Assembly

> Nigeria's lawmakers plan 74 new women seats in National Assembly to boost female political participation.
- Title: Nigeria Proposes 74 Women's Seats in National Assembly
- Summary: Nigeria's lawmakers plan 74 new women seats in National Assembly to boost female political participation. Nigeria's National Assembly proposed 74 additional…
- Keywords: nigeria, national assembly, women seats, senate, house of representatives, constitutional review, political participation, news, world, politics, Proposes, Women's
- Source: Allafrica — https://allafrica.com/stories/202611030182.html
- Published: 2026-11-03T09:10:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nigeria, national assembly, women seats, senate, house of representatives, constitutional review, political participation, news, world, politics
## Women's Political Representation
Women have historically occupied only a small proportion of seats in Nigeria's National Assembly despite making up nearly half the population.
## 74 Additional Seats Proposed
The National Assembly's Constitution Review Committee proposed 74 additional seats for women in Senate and House of Representatives.
## State-Level Seats
Three additional seats reserved for women in each state House of Assembly without displacing existing electoral seats.
## Senate Leader Announcement
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed the proposals at the 2026 Law Week organised by FIDA, Ekiti State Chapter.
## Bill for Constitutional Change
A Bill for an Act to alter Nigeria's 1999 Constitution to provide special seats for women in National and State Houses of Assembly is under review.
## 16-Year Implementation
The proposed arrangement runs for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, before a comprehensive review.
## Non-Partisan Initiative
The special seat initiative is not a partisan endeavour but a historic imperative for strengthening Nigeria's democracy.
## Women's Protection Focus
The proposal aims to strengthen protections for women and reduce domestic violence through legal and medical support.
## Supporters' Arguments
Supporters argue the measure addresses structural barriers to women's political participation including high election costs and gender-based violence.
## Critics' Concerns
Critics question whether reserved seats undermine equal representation or create a class of legislators with different mandates.
## Key takeaway

Nigeria's National Assembly proposed 74 additional seats for women in Senate and House of Representatives to increase female representation in politics.