Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, says the 10th National Assembly is committed to increasing women’s participation in governance through a proposed constitutional amendment to create special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Bamidele disclosed this while speaking at the 2026 Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter, held in Ado-Ekiti, with the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
He explained that the proposal would create 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with one seat reserved for women in each state and the Federal Capital Territory. Three additional seats would also be created in each State House of Assembly.
According to him, the arrangement would run for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, without displacing existing legislative seats.
The lawmaker said the National Assembly had commenced engagements with State Houses of Assembly to secure the required approval for the proposed constitutional amendment.
He described the initiative as a historic step towards addressing women’s underrepresentation in politics, insisting that democracy cannot be fully representative when women are excluded from decision-making.
Bamidele also highlighted the challenges facing women and children, including gender-based violence, economic exclusion, sexual abuse, trafficking and digital exploitation.
He cited the four Tax Reform Acts of 2025 as part of the 10th Assembly’s interventions, noting that sanitary products, baby diapers and other essential items for women and children were exempted from Value Added Tax.
In her keynote address, ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, called for stronger legal protection against emerging threats such as cyberstalking, online harassment, deepfake images and child exploitation.
She also urged greater collaboration among government institutions, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations to tackle abuses against women and children.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ogunmoye, commended FIDA for inviting Bamidele, describing him as well-positioned to address legislative reforms affecting women and children.
Earlier, FIDA Ekiti Chairperson, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children
