President Bola Tinubu is set to introduce executive bills to the National Assembly, aiming to create special seats for women and Persons with Disabilities in federal and state legislatures. This move is part of a major inclusivity initiative by the 10th National Assembly. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced this development at a reception in Abuja, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
The proposed legislation for women's representation has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review. According to Abbas, the bill will provide additional seats for women beyond the existing elective positions. This initiative seeks to address Nigeria's historically low representation of women in elective offices. Currently, the 10th National Assembly has only four women in the Senate and 16 in the House of Representatives.
The proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill will create 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with one seat for each state and the Federal Capital Territory. State Houses of Assembly will also receive three additional seats reserved for women in each senatorial district. This arrangement will be in place for four general election cycles, or 16 years, before a review.
A separate bill, HB 1931, aims to create special seats for physically challenged persons in the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and local government legislative councils. This bill proposes one additional PWD member from each of the six geopolitical zones in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Abbas expressed optimism that these initiatives will succeed before the end of the 10th National Assembly's tenure.
Abbas also highlighted the strong working relationship between the Senate and House of Representatives. He described the collaboration between the two chambers as seamless, allowing them to address national issues effectively. The National Assembly has maintained this bicameral relationship since its inception.
Nigeria will host the World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association Conference from November 15 to 21, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The event, expected to attract 3,000 delegates from 126 countries, is a significant opportunity for Nigeria to engage with global public relations professionals.
The Presidency has assured organizers of its support for the event. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the assurance when he received members of the WPRF Abuja 2026 Planning Committee at the State House in Abuja.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu will transmit executive bills to the National Assembly for special seats for women and Persons with Disabilities.
- The proposed legislation aims to address Nigeria's historically low representation of women in elective offices.
- Nigeria will host the World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association Conference in Abuja from November 15 to 21, 2026.
