Ogun: Women demand 50% Commissioners slots

Women in Ogun State on Thursday demanded 50 per cent commissioners slots in Governor Dapo Abiodun’s cabinet.

The Convener of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Akiyode – Afolabi who led women in peaceful demonstration to the Governor’s office and the State House of Assembly at Oke Mosan on Thursday, described women representation in the country as “appalling.”

Akiyode – Afolabi expressed concern that President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial appointment and other State Governors who have appointed commissioners so far have fallen short of the 35 per cent affirmative action for women.

She hinted that the demonstration was a proactive step towards ensuring women get “nothing less than 50 percent slots” in the governor’s yet-to-be-constituted cabinet.

“Anything less than 50 per cent, we won’t accept. The minimum we can take is 35 per cent. But it can be as high as 50 and 70.”

“We are saying in Ogun State, we have more than enough, capable, qualified and technocrats among women to be appointed into the cabinet. In actual sense, the state has a history of leading women, from Fumilayo Ransome – Kuti to Kuridat Abiola and so many others. But we don’t want to be taken by surprise. It’s a warning protest because we will not allow the Assembly to go ahead with any nomination that is non-inclusive,” Akiyode – Afolabi said.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako – Oyedele who addressed the protesters at the Governor’s office reassured them of Governor Abiodun’s commitment to “inclusive and qualitative governance.”