Constitution amendment may raise Senate seats to 121, House to 397 for women inclusion

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Senate could expand from 109 to 121 members, while the House of Representatives may increase from 360 to 397 seats from 2027, if the National Assembly approves proposed constitutional amendments aimed at improving women’s representation in governance.

The proposal seeks to create 12 additional Senate seats and 37 extra House of Representatives seats, all reserved exclusively for women.

Unlike existing legislative seats, the proposed positions would not be filled through the general election but through an Electoral College system.

This formed the focus of discussions at a zonal caucus meeting organised by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) in collaboration with sponsors of bills seeking special seats for women in parliament.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, said the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly had shown support for the initiative, but stressed that sustained advocacy was needed to secure its passage.

According to him, members of the House of Representatives have remained strong advocates of greater female participation in governance, adding that the proposed special seats would create an avenue for women to gain legislative experience before competing for regular elective positions.

He said: “The procedure and mechanism proposed in the bill for the emergence of women lawmakers through special seats will provide a window for women to make appreciable representation in both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, from where they can subsequently come in through the normal electoral process.”

Igariwey also urged women’s groups to intensify engagement with members of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, whose approval would be required for any constitutional amendment establishing the reserved seats.