A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives aiming to amend Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution to create six additional seats dedicated to women and people living with disabilities (PWDs).
Known as the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” the proposal was read for the first time during plenary on Wednesday.
The bill, sponsored by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), seeks to expand the current House membership from 360 to 366, with the six new seats allocated specifically for women and PWDs.
The special seats would be distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring one representative from each group in each region, provided candidates meet all standard eligibility criteria for House membership.
Elections for these seats would be held through an electoral college composed of representatives from each group’s National Association, along with grassroots and regional representatives, in a multi-level election process.
Once elected, the new representatives would serve the same term as other House members and receive equivalent benefits.
Rotimi stated that the bill aims to improve political representation for women and PWDs, who frequently face obstacles to participation.
“The inclusion of these special seats will amplify the voices of underrepresented groups at the national level, fostering a more inclusive legislative process,” he noted.
This proposal aligns with a recent call by House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for a constitutional amendment to reserve legislative seats for women and ensure female representation in executive tickets.
