Lawmaker To Tinubu: Adhere To Rule Of Law, Boost Women’s Role In Govt

President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been urged to adhere to the rule of law and mainstream women in appointive offices in line with the national gender policy and international instruments.

In a press statement, Hon. Oluga Taiwo, Chairman of the House Committee on Women in Parliament, highlighted the need for the incoming administration to deepen democratic ideals and ensure equality of all persons before the law.

The statement further noted that despite policy and legislative instruments executed by the government, the number of women’s participation in governance in Nigeria remains extremely low, with the national average never exceeding 6.7% of both elective and appointive positions in the country.

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“In the 10” National Assembly, based on current election results, men will occupy 96.5% whilst women will occupy 3.4% of the seats. In the current Federal Executive, we have seven (7) Female Ministers out of the forty four(44) Ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The number of women participation in governance in Nigeria is still extremely low, despite the avalanche of Policy and Legislative Instruments executed by Government.

“More than ever before, the Women fold is expecting a deliberate display of Executive Will of the administration in mainstreaming women in public governance as Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose wife has been a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, takes the mantle of leadership.

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“Rule of Law entails equality before the law and supremacy of the Constitution. That is, equality of all persons regardless of gender and the supremacy of the laws of the land. The National Gender Policy 2006, The Nigerian Constitution (Sections 42,147,14(3)), the Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for action prohibits all obstacles to women active participation in all spheres of public and private life and targets full equal share in economic, social, cultural and political decision making.

“This implies equality between women and men as a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and is also necessary and fundamental prerequisite for equality development and peace.

“increased participation in Public_Governance, Nigeria continues to score low in number of women percentage in governance. The national average of women participation in politics has never exceeded 6.7% of both elective and appointive positions in the country. This is far below the global average of 22.3%, the West African Regional Average of 15% and the African Regional Average of 23.4% in the past twenty (20) years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria. Despite the fact that women account for 51% of Nigeria’s voting population, inclusion of women in politics has never exceeded 7% and il is currently 6.7%.

“This has led the Incorporated Trustees of Women Empowerment & Legal Aid Initiative & Eight (8) other Women Bodies to drag the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2020,where the Federal High Court on the 6’h April 2022 to compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to live up to his responsibilities on women participation in Politics and Governance. ‘

‘The suit was successful and it was held that the issue of 35% women participation in appointment into Federal Government offices has become a responsibility of the Federal Government backed by Law and Policy and that the President and the Federal Government is bound to adhere to the 35% affirmative action.

“Consequently, the Women Fold Globally and indeed the International Community is observing with keen interest whether the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will pass its first litmus test of adherence and observance of the Rule of law in its appointment of cabinet members. Whether it will obey the judgment of the Federal High Court on women participation in governance, by ensuring increased (35%) appointments are given to women.’