Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Mrs. Toun Okewale Sonaiya has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors in their states to nominate at least one woman among the three names they send to the incoming administration for ministerial appointments.
This ,she said, would translate to ‘approximately 35 per cent in accordance with the affirmative action and bridge the vacuum created in 2023 elective positions’.
According to her, there are competent and capable women politicians and female technocrats across the nation, thus, every man and woman should play a part in rebuilding the socio-economic fabric of the country.
Mrs Sonaiya stated that though the men are great nation builders, they require the support and input of women, adding that when men and women lead together, Nigeria will make progress.
In a statement, she said women are advocating an increase in female representation in governance at all levels.
She said: “Nigerian women’s groups are maintaining a strong alliance in advocating for an increase in female representation in governance at all levels. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre is coordinating women representatives of each state to present the Nigerian Women Charter of Demand to the government of each state.
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” Additionally, League of Women Voters of Nigeria, 100 Women Lobby Groups and Women in Politics Forum members in each of the 36 states will visit governors to lobby for state nomination of women for ministerial and commissioner appointments.
Nigerian Women Trust Fund is holding a strategic briefing with 9th Assembly female legislators on the 35% affirmative action judgment to demand more appointments of women with the incoming administration.
“Despite increased lobbying and advocacy for gender balance and female inclusion in politics in the last three years, the just-concluded 2023 elections saw the lowest and most demoralising percentage of elected women senators and House of Representatives, with only three and fourteen, respectively.
“The 9th National Assembly rejected the passage of the five gender bills, failing Nigerian women. Nigerian women are hopeful that the 10th National Assembly will pass the bills for Nigeria’s development.
“Political parties must revisit their manifestos and match their words with actions in terms of female recognition within the party, as marginalization against women in elective positions arises internally.”
She expressed hope that governors will raise the stakes of the polity and that the incoming administration will both uphold the demands of women as promised and write its name in the books of Nigerian history in good standing.