A bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution, to create additional special seats for women in the Federal and State Legislative Houses, passed second reading at the House of Representatives’ plenary session on Wednesday, 28 April 2021.
The lead sponsors of the bill are the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC: Abia) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC: Lagos). It is co-sponsored by 85 other members of the House of Representatives including all 13 female members. If passed, the bill would create a new narrative on the question of female inclusion in Nigeria’s politics.
The bill proposes the creation of additional 37 senate seats specifically for women (one from each State of the Federation and the FCT). It also proposes the creation of two additional seats from each of the 36 States of the Federation and FCT for the House of Representatives.
There is a further creation of one seat from each senatorial district of the 36 states of the federation to be contested for, solely by a woman. This establishes three additional State House of Assembly seats one from each of the senatorial districts in the State.
When passed, only women will be able to contest and fill the new seats created. The provision is however a temporary special measure which will come up for review after four election cycles of 16 years.
The bill has been referred to the Ad hoc committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
The National Assembly has indicated that it intends to complete the first phase of its constitution amendment work before it breaks for the summer legislative holidays in July.
