House Of Reps Want Membership Increased From 360 To 366

The House of Representatives is considering a proposal which recommends that the membership of the House be increased from 360 to 366.

Naija News reports that the proposal, which is contained in a bill put forward by the House of Reps spokesperson, Akintunde Rotimi, seeks to reserve six special seats specifically for women and individuals with disabilities.

To achieve this aim, it seeks to amend Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic (as amended).

The bill, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” this bill was introduced for its initial reading during the plenary session on Wednesday.

If the proposed amendment is successful, it would increase the number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with the six new seats dedicated to women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the decision of the federal government to approve the construction of an airstrip at Canaanland, the headquarters of Living Faith Church.

Following a motion on Wednesday by Sulaiman Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, the House resolved to investigate the approval given by the federal government to the church owned by Bishop David Oyedepo to construct an airstrip.

The lawmakers argued that allowing private entities to establish airstrips may facilitate the illegal importation of firearms and hard drugs into the country as well as money laundering issues, which could further alleviate the challenges of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping facing the country.

The House also urged the Minister of Aviation to cease the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals while it also called for the withdrawal of any licenses that have already been granted to private entities and organizations.