By Isa Abdul, Abuja

74 special seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives have been proposed according to Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, by the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

The proposal also provides for three additional seats reserved for women in each State House of Assembly, without any female legislators..

Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter.

He said the proposals were aimed at deepening women’s participation and representation in Nigeria’s political and governance processes.

The programme, organised by the Ekiti State chapter of FIDA, chaired by Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, had the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”

In a statement issued by his Media Directorate, Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the proposed special seats were part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

He said: “A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly and for related matters is receiving our attention at the National Assembly.”

He explained that the proposal would create 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives.

Accordingly, if approved, each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory will have one additional seat in each chamber of the National Assembly.

He said the committee had also proposed three additional seats for women in each State House of Assembly.

Bamidele said the arrangement was designed to operate for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which it would be subjected to a comprehensive review.

He said the proposed duration as a sunset clause intended to allow the development of a more inclusive political culture.

He said the committee was engaging with state Houses of Assembly, whose concurrence was constitutionally required for the proposed amendment to take effect.

Bamidele said the initiative was not partisan but aimed at addressing the under-representation of women in decision-making.

He added that the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to the proposal had been strengthened by advocacy from key government figures, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

On the broader protection of women and children, Bamidele said laws must respond to emerging threats and ensure that victims of abuse had access to protection and justice.

He said justice should be accessible, affordable, timely and effective, adding that women experiencing domestic violence and children subjected to abuse must be protected from intimidation and further harm.

He also called for access to legal assistance, medical care and psychosocial support for victims, while perpetrators should be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Steve Fatoba, and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, among others.

By Michael Lim

Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has been commended for fully implementing the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement by the Kaduna State University(KASU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU).

In a Friday briefing delivered by Comrade Abubakar Abdullahi and Comrade Silas Amos Bakut, Chairman and Secretary respectively, said the gesture is capable of building trust and healthy labour relation.The Union said Governor Uba Sani’s welfare initiatives represented a significant milestone in the development of the university and are expected to contribute to the overall advancement of the institution.

‘’We consider this development a positive demonstration of the State Government’s recognition of the vital role of academic staff in advancing quality university education and sustainable development,’’ ASUU noted.

It commended Kaduna State Government and the Management of KASU for their commendable and exemplary handling of the earlier industrial action. ASUU disclosed:

‘’For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that, at no point during the strike action, were the union or its members subjected to intimidation, threats or any form of harassment.

‘’Remarkably, our salaries were paid while the strike was still ongoing, and engagements between the union, the Government and University Management remained cordial, constructive and focused on addressing the fundamental issues in dispute.

‘’This approach represents a significant departure from some of the unfortunate experiences of the past and demonstrates a renewed commitment to mutual respect, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes.’

The union also noted that the current administration has made positive progress in addressing ‘’several inherited welfare challenges affecting our members.’’

‘’Specifically, the Government has addressed the 60 percent withheld salary of 2017, paid outstanding Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances for the period 2016-2020 and settled five months of withheld salaries covering May to September 2022,’’ the union disclosed.

The union added that the Governor has ‘’advanced the sum of N300 million towards the settlement of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) arrears for the 2016-2020 academic sessions.

‘’Furthermore, the Governing Council and Management of Kaduna State University are working collaboratively with the union towards resolving outstanding death benefits and promotion arrears dating from 2021.”

While commending the Governor and the varsity management for demonstrating the leadership, courage and the political will required to address these longstanding challenges, the union noted that the interventions have brought considerable relief to affected members.

ASUU listed other initiatives by Governor Uba Sani in the last three and half years, to enhance staff welfare such as the 10.2 hectres of land ‘’for the KASU-ASUU Multipurpose Cooperative Society to develop the Academia Housing Estate, a mass housing project designed to benefit our members and other civil servants.

‘’Beyond the land allocation, His Excellency graciously approved a subsidy of 4,000,000,00 for each beneficiary, amounting to approximately 400,000,000.00 for the project.

‘’This intervention has reduced the cost of a housing unit from 40,000,000.00 to 36,000,000.00, thereby making home ownership more accessible to the beneficiaries,’’ ASUU pointed out.

The union appreciated the genuine commitment to dialogue over confrontation and seeking sustainable solutions to their concerns, exhibited by Government and KASU Management. ASUU promised:

‘’We reiterate our commitment to constructive engagement with the State Government, the Governing Council and University Management towards resolving all outstanding welfare issues, strengthening industrial harmony and positioning Kaduna State University among the leading universities in Nigeria and globally.”

ASUU also commended the invaluable contributions, leadership and commitment of the Commissioner of Education and Chairman of the Negotiation Committee, Prof Abubakar Sani Sambo.

The union also praised the ‘’Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Ibrahim Umar; the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Professor Usman Abubakar; and all other members of the Negotiation Committee for their dedication and concerted efforts towards resolving the issues in dispute.’’

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has asserted that NLC has the authority to negotiate alone on labour matters, countering the position of his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, that both labour bodies are equal partners to participate in such negotiations.

Ajaero said the TUC could negotiate alongside the NLC but could not independently negotiate with labour authorities, citing the principle of most workers’ representatives under the International Labour Organisation.

Speaking Monday as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, he held this position amid the disagreement between the two labour bodies over the N70,000 transport allowance approved by the Federal Government for workers across all levels for six months. In his words:

“TUC can negotiate along with NLC but NLC can negotiate alone based on the principle of most workers representatives of the ILO.”

Ajaero gave an example of how the TUC is required to present its proposals to the NLC for onward submission when engaging with the ILO.

“TUC sent their negotiation alone ahead of the ILO conference but they returned it back and I had to minute on it.

“They have to send their list here for me to forward it; that is the position of the ILO. NLC determines how TUC participates.”

Ajaero further stated that the Ministry of Labour and other labour authorities would not engage with the TUC independently on workers’ welfare negotiations. In other words:

“TUC can’t negotiate alone; if they are saying and it is implied, it does not happen. I don’t think the Ministry of Labour or the Labour Authority will allow that to happen.”

Osifo’s claim that the TUC had a significant number of workers in the federal civil service, Ajaero countered saying that the Trade Union Amendment Act 2005 and the 1999 Constitution, have given workers the right to choose their unions.

“The 2005 Trade Union Amendment Act made membership of trade unions voluntary.

“It is the worker that determines the union he belongs to;

“Section 40 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended was clear that every Nigerian worker has the right to belong to any trade union, political or religious institution of his choice, which gives every worker the latitude to belong to any union of their choice.”

Ajaero also argued that Osifo’s claim about the number of workers represented by the TUC did not reflect the composition of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.

According to him, only one of the eight union bodies in the joint council belongs to the TUC, while the remaining seven are affiliated with the NLC.

He further argued that the TUC-affiliated union in the joint body had subjected its powers to the council.

In the course of the programme, Ajaero explained how the N70,000 transport allowance agreement was reached, saying NLC had issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government before the intervention was agreed upon.

“We gave government an ultimatum; we were supposed to start an action. The government asked for four days to meet with us, and we met, and they resumed sitting after four days.

“After the meeting, the 70k allowance came up.”