The Nigerian House of Representatives introduces a bill to expand membership from 360 to 366 seats, aiming to improve legislative representation.
The House of Representatives has proposed a bill to revise Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), in order to designate six special seats for women and individuals with disabilities.
The “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811)” was introduced for its first reading during the plenary session on Wednesday.
Proposed by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti-APC), the amendment aims to boost the number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with six new seats specifically designated for women and persons with disabilities.
As stated in the bill, these special seats would be evenly distributed among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, guaranteeing one representative from each group per region. Candidates for these positions must satisfy all qualifications necessary for regular House members.
The bill additionally suggests that elections for these roles be carried out via an electoral college composed of members from the National Associations representing each special group, incorporating input from grassroots and regional levels through a multi-tiered election process.
The statement further mentioned that, after being elected, the representatives would serve terms identical to other House members and receive the same benefits as specified in the bill.
Rotimi mentioned that the bill seeks to improve representation for women and people with disabilities, who frequently encounter substantial obstacles to political involvement.
“The addition of these special seats will guarantee that the voices of underrepresented groups are heard at the national level, fostering a more balanced and inclusive legislative framework for Nigeria,” he stated.
Peoplesmind
