The House of Representatives has introduced a bill aimed at amending Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reserve six special seats for women and individuals living with disabilities (PWDs).
This bill, named “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” was submitted for its initial reading during the plenary session on Wednesday.
Led by House Speaker Akintunde Rotimi (representing Ekiti-APC), this amendment aims to boost the total number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with six additional seats specifically designated for women and PWDs.
The bill outlines that these special seats will be allocated uniformly across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, guaranteeing representation from each group within a region. Candidates for these seats are required to meet all the qualifications necessary for regular members of the House.
Furthermore, the bill suggests that elections for these positions will be carried out via an electoral college composed of members from the National Associations of each special group, incorporating feedback from grassroots and regional levels in a multi-tiered election process.
It added that, once elected, the representatives would serve the same term as other House members and receive equivalent benefits, as outlined in the bill.
Rotimi emphasized that the bill’s goal is to improve representation for women and individuals with disabilities, who frequently encounter significant obstacles to political engagement.
“The inclusion of these special seats will ensure that the voices of underrepresented groups are heard at the national level, creating a more balanced and inclusive legislative framework for Nigeria,” he said.
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