The House of Representatives has introduced a significant bill aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria to allocate six special seats for women and persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
Titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” the proposal was presented during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The bill seeks to increase the total number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with six additional seats reserved specifically for women and PWDs.
These special seats would be evenly distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring that one representative from each group is elected per region.
Candidates for these special seats must meet the same qualifications required for regular House members. Elections for these roles would be conducted through an electoral college, comprising members from the National Associations of each special group, with grassroots and regional input.
Once elected, the representatives would serve the same term as other House members and receive equivalent benefits as outlined in the bill.
House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi, who sponsored the bill, emphasized its importance in enhancing representation for women and individuals with disabilities. He noted that these groups often face significant barriers to political participation, and the inclusion of special seats aims to ensure their voices are heard at the national level.
“The inclusion of these special seats will create a more balanced and inclusive legislative framework for Nigeria,” Rotimi stated.
If passed, this bill could mark a significant step towards improving political representation for historically marginalized groups in Nigeria. It aims to address gender and disability disparities in political participation, promoting a more inclusive democracy.
