The indices about women’s participation in politics in Nigeria are not encouraging, the United Nations Women deputy Country Representative, Mr Lansana Wonneh, has said.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on “Women Participation in Elections Support Bill, 2018’’ on Friday in Abuja, he said countries where equal opportunities are given to women tend to perform better in all sectors of the economy.
“There was the need for Nigeria to deliberately formulate laws to enhance women participation in politics in line with global best practice. Women’s inclusion in politics was about their human rights, yet most parliamentarians don’t understand or agree why the Women Participation in Elections Support Bill, 2018 should be signed into law. Some arguments are structurally redundant, at this time and age, I do not expect that people in parliament will think like that, we have seen Ministers and Prime Ministers around the world that do well so why can’t we learn from that.”
He also said that if some other countries are making moves to perform better everyday, Nigeria should not be left behind in making the necessary adjustment adding that poverty has become the face of women in the country. “The women are not being carried along . We need to change the narrative.”
The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu also urged all men to take action to protect women from extinction in politics in Nigeria.
Ojukwu noted that the challenges faced by women who contested in the past primaries is quite cumbersome while disclosing that at there is need to strengthen the advocacy for the enactment into law of the Women Participation in Elective Office Support Bill 2018.
He stated that the bill Prescribes women’s quota for elections into the Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly and Area Council of the Federal Capital territory.
“The bill will increase women’s participation and representation in certain electives offices and other related matters. I is anchored on the right of women, and will help in shaping the political landscape for women.”
The UNDP Governance Lead, Onyinye Ndubuisi also added that the enactment of the bill will bring economical and social gain to the populace. “The bill will turn around the situation of the country. It will ensure that the country gets to the next level in all ramifications.”
She enjoined women to be united so as to ensure that the women’s participation in elections support bill comes into limelight.
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