Reps consider bill to create six special seats for women, PWDs 

The house of representatives is considering a bill to create six special seats for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the green chamber. 

The constitution amendment bill is sponsored by Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the house.

The 1999 constitution recognises 360 seats for the house of representatives.

Section 49 of the constitution states: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist of three hundred and sixty members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one State”.

The bill intends to revise the aforementioned section by replacing the words “three hundred and sixty members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one state”, with the phrase “three hundred and sixty-six members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one state, and six members representing special interest groups”.

“There shall be established in the House of Representatives, six special seats for each of the special interest groups, namely, women and persons living with disabilities, distributed evenly across the six geo-political zones,” the bill reads.

“Aspirants to these special seats shall meet all other qualifications for regular seats in the House of Representatives and shall be allowed to stand for election by an electoral college consisting of all members of the National Association of such a special group.

“The aspirants shall emerge through a process of election from the grassroots in each state, after which state candidates shall emerge through voting by the electoral college.

“There shall be a regional electoral college for each geo-political zone, consisting of all the National Officers of the Association from the states within the zone, which shall determine the final persons to emerge as representatives for the special seats.

“The special seats shall be filled by persons of the respective special interest groups, and they shall serve for the same term, and enjoy all benefits as other members of the House of Representatives.”

According to the bill, the amendment does not apply to the senate.

A similar bill seeking to create 74 seats for women in the national assembly passed second reading in the house of representatives in July.

The bill is sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, and 12 other lawmakers.