A Nigerian women’s rights organization under the aegis of 100 Women Lobby Group on Thursday called on President Bola Tinubu not to renege on his promise to get enough space for women in appointive positions.
The organization pleaded with the president to take the five Gender Bills, which were rejected by the 9th National Assembly, to the 10th Assembly as an Executive Bill, adding that Nigeria needed to take pride of place in the comity of nations.
The women’s coalition also demanded 35 per cent women’s representation in appointive positions across the board to ensure gender balance.
The National Coordinator of the 100 Women Lobby Group and human rights activist, Felicia Onibon, made the appeal in Abuja during a press briefing on the closeup of the Electoral Integrity and Accountability in Nigeria project supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
The event was also attended by representatives of gender rights organizations, including Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Women in Politics Forum, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and ElectHER.
Onibon said,
“One of our major prayers is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the five gender bills as an executive bill to the 10th Assembly, as Nigeria needs to take pride of place in the comity of nations as we currently lag behind in the development paradigm, which is usually determined by the gender status of a nation.
“We also congratulate the newly elected legislators both at the national and state levels, and we take this opportunity to ask for their cooperation, especially as we have fewer women in parliament and the need for more voices of women to be reflected at legislative levels, amongst women and men, for equitable development in Nigeria. We look forward to working together as we increase the participation of women in politics in Nigeria.
“For women advocates, this is a critical season for Nigeria to look further inward towards legislative decisions that improve the livelihood of Nigerians. We take this opportunity to ask that the five gender bills that were rejected during the 9th Assembly be given top priority in the 10th Assembly. We also ask that the President give his full support to the demands of Nigerian women towards an equitable society.”
Onibon stressed the importance of increased female representation in Tinubu’s administration, emphasising the demand for 35 per cent women’s representation in appointive positions across all levels to achieve gender equity.
She highlighted the underrepresentation of women at all levels of decision-making in Nigeria, citing data to support this claim.
The activist said that women’s full and equitable participation in public life was crucial for building and sustaining a strong, vibrant democracy and achieving social and economic development.
Onibon said there was a need to maintain the integrity and accountability of the system to prevent further exclusion of women from political participation
She said that improving electoral integrity and accountability in the Nigerian project had increased the knowledge of the rural women about their civic rights through sensitization of voting processes.
Onibon said the project significantly increased the number of women at the polls in the 2023 elections.
She said,
“About 100 young female political aspirants were mentored on ethical guidelines in political participation as well as engagement and sensitization of women at the grassroots, which led to an increased level of interest of women in political and decision-making processes.
“Increase in the number of voters for female candidates (women went out to support women), increase in the participation of women in electoral processes, as we saw commitments being made by the stakeholders of political parties to appoint more female candidates and include women in various positions in the party.
“Increased knowledge of lobbying, leadership skills, awareness on gender inclusion for female youths in politics Increased collaboration of women in different political parties to ensure effective party administration at all levels
“Female politicians now have a platform to work with CSOs, which has positively influenced female members of the communities to support more women in political participation.”
