Reps Propose N’Assembly Reserve 82 Seats for Women, Persons with Disabilities in Constitutional Amendment

The Nigerian House of Representatives has proposed a constitutional amendment to reserve 82 seats in the National Assembly for women and persons with disabilities.

According to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, 55 seats will be allocated to the House of Representatives and 27 to the Senate.

The proposed allocation includes 10% of seats for women and 5% for persons with disabilities, aiming to promote inclusive governance.

These reserved seats will be filled through direct elections on separate ballots, while persons with disabilities’ seats will be nominated through accredited advocacy organizations.

This move seeks to address decades of gender imbalance, as women held less than 1% of seats at independence, and the number has barely increased since then.

The House of Representatives has drawn inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Senegal, which have significantly improved women’s representation through quotas.

The House is currently considering 109 amendment bills, including reforms on elections, judicial processes, and fiscal accountability. Speaker Abbas noted that 2,263 bills have been introduced in the current Assembly, with 55 already signed into law, including key reforms like the Student Loan Act and the amended Electricity Act.

The Speaker also revealed that 621 petitions have been received, with 24 resolved, 30 dismissed, and 567 still under review.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the House’s legislative strides and pledged Senate support, while former speakers Yakubu Dogara and Patricia Ette urged lawmakers to deepen public engagement and uphold accountability.

The 10th House of Representatives has assured that it will continue to prioritize inclusive and responsive lawmaking, while strengthening ties with the executive to deliver results for Nigerians.