Buhari tasked on 35% affirmative action

Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his campaign promise of complying with the 35 percent affirmative action as part of efforts to enhance inclusion of women the nation’s leadership.

She spoke in Abuja at the Second Annual National Women Conference, a two-day event attended by participants drawn from women groups across the country.

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Obi also said:”We continue to see conflicts fought on women bodies. We have seen women used as weapons and targets of violence. The disproportionate impact of insecurity on women and girls – children cannot be ignored.

“We therefore, must act as fast as possible to stop this expanding insecurity in Nigeria. Acting requires Nigeria to operationalise, in all regions of the country, the provisions of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which enjoins all states to facilitate women’s participation and leadership in peace and security, and which Nigeria committed herself to”, she said. 

Acting High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Kevin Tokar, said gender inequality and lack of respect for women’s rights accounted for growing levels of violence, conflict and instability in Nigeria.