Reps propose bill to increase membership from 360 to 366

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A bill to alter Section 49 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) to reserve six special seats for women and people with disabilities (PWDs) has been introduced by the House of Representatives.

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.

With six more seats set aside especially for women and people with disabilities, the proposed amendment, which is sponsored by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti-APC), aims to expand the number of lawmakers in the House from 360 to 366.

The bill states that these unique seats would be allocated equally among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, guaranteeing that each region will have one delegate from each group. All requirements for ordinary House members must be met by candidates for these seats.

Additionally, the bill suggests a multi-tiered election process with participation from grassroots and regional levels, with an electoral college composed of members from each special group’s National Associations conducting elections for these positions.

It further stated that, in accordance with the bill, the representatives would be elected to the same term as other members of the House and would be entitled to the same benefits.

According to Rotimi, the law seeks to improve representation for women and people with disabilities, who frequently encounter major obstacles when trying to participate in politics.

“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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