The Nigerian House of Representatives has proposed a constitutional amendment to increase the number of seats in the National Assembly from 469 to 552, in a bid to promote greater inclusivity and representation.

The proposed amendment includes a groundbreaking provision to reserve 10% of the seats for women and 5% for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Under the proposal, 83 new seats would be added 55 in the House of Representatives and 28 in the Senate specifically for female candidates. These seats would be filled through direct elections, with mechanisms in place to ensure regional balance.

In addition, 5% of existing seats would be reserved for PWDs, with candidates to be nominated by accredited disability advocacy organizations.

The amendment aims to address long-standing concerns over the underrepresentation of women and persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s legislative system.

Despite women constituting nearly half of the country’s population, female representation in the National Assembly has remained significantly low.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, championed the proposal, citing international precedents where constitutional quotas have helped improve gender balance in parliaments.

He stressed that embedding these quotas in Nigeria’s Constitution would institutionalize inclusivity and ensure long-term participation of marginalized groups in governance.

If passed, the amendment could reshape Nigeria’s legislative framework by fostering broader representation and more inclusive decision-making processes.

The proposal is currently under deliberation and is expected to generate further national discourse as it moves through the legislative process.