A constitutional amendment bill in Nigeria proposes creating 182 new seats reserved for women in federal and state legislatures to address gender imbalance in politics. Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the measure faces resistance from the Senate, which suggests far fewer seats. If passed, it would temporarily expand parliamentary bodies for 16 years.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution by reserving 182 seats exclusively for women. This includes 37 additional seats in the Senate—one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—bringing its total to 146 members. The House would gain 37 women-only seats, expanding to 397 members, while state assemblies across Nigeria's 36 states would add 108 seats, with three per state based on senatorial districts.
The legislation, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers including the late Oriyomi Onanuga, mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create special women-only constituencies. It targets Sections 48, 49, 71, 77, 91, and 117 of the Constitution, with a review after four election cycles, or 16 years. Proponents argue it corrects Nigeria's low female representation, where women hold less than 5% of elected offices—three in the 109-member Senate and 17 in the 360-member House—ranking the country 184th globally.
However, the Senate proposes a scaled-back version, limiting new seats to six—one per geopolitical zone—instead of 37. Dr. Chidozie Ajah, Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker, noted at a workshop in Abuja that discussions are ongoing toward consensus. He emphasized the bill addresses structural barriers, not women's competitiveness, and lawmakers are considering changes to Section 42 to enable affirmative action without legal challenges.
Even with full implementation, female representation would reach only 13.6% in the Senate and House, below Africa's average. Adaora Sydney-Jack of Gender Strategy Advancement International urged media to better cover women-focused issues, accusing newsrooms of sidelining them. The bill requires two-thirds approval in both legislative chambers, ratification by 24 state assemblies, and presidential assent to pass.