National Assembly Debates Constitutional Amendment to Create 182 Reserved Legislative Seats for Women

Nigeria's National Assembly considers a bill to create special seats for women. Explore the arguments for inclusion vs. the N200 billion cost concerns.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 9:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from James Kwen for LEADERSHIP.

Proposed Structural Changes to the 1999 Constitution

The Constitution Alteration Bill, championed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 co-sponsors, seeks to fundamentally reorganize the composition of Nigeria’s legislative houses. The bill proposes amendments to Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 to create one additional "special seat" in the Senate and House of Representatives for each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. At the sub-national level, Section 91 would be altered to mandate three reserved seats for women in every State House of Assembly. If enacted, these seats would be subject to a mandatory review every 16 years.

Stark Disparity in Current Legislative Representation

Data from the 10th National Assembly highlights the gender gap that the bill intends to bridge. Currently, only 4 out of 109 senators (3.7%) and 16 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives (4.44%) are women. The situation is similarly constrained at the state level, where only 48 out of 988 seats (4.85%) are held by women. Notably, 14 state assemblies—including those in Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna—currently have no female representation at all. Proponents point to countries like Rwanda and Andorra as successful examples of how affirmative action can correct such historical imbalances.

High-Level Support for Mandatory Gender Inclusion

The bill has garnered significant backing from the highest levels of government and international organizations. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu have both urged for the bill's expeditious passage, framing it as a foundation for national cohesion. Beatrice Eyong, a representative for UN Women in Nigeria, noted that Nigeria currently ranks among the lowest globally for female parliamentary participation. Supporters argue that decades of advocacy have failed to move the needle, making a "temporary constitutional remedy" a mechanical necessity for progress.