Nigeria, Oct. 6 -- Political party leaders have proposed wide-ranging constitutional reforms, including the creation of additional legislative seats for women, greater autonomy for local governments, and new social welfare provisions to protect vulnerable Nigerians.

They made the proposals on Monday in Abuja at a consultative meeting between the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review and national executives of registered political parties.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, was part of ongoing consultations ahead of the next phase of the 1999 Constitution amendment process.

The National Secretary of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Vidiyeno Bamaiyi, called for an expansion of legislative represe...