By Segun Onifade
The House of Representatives has introduced a bill to amend Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to allocate six special seats for women and persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
The bill, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” was presented for its first reading during plenary on Wednesday.
Sponsored by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti-APC), the proposed amendment seeks to increase the total number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with the six additional seats reserved specifically for women and PWDs.
According to the bill, these special seats would be distributed evenly across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring one representative from each group per region. Candidates for these seats must meet all qualifications required for regular House members.
The bill also proposes that elections for these roles would be conducted through an electoral college made up of members from the National Associations of each special group, with input 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 stated that the bill aims to enhance representation for women and individuals with disabilities, who often face significant barriers to political participation.
“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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