Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations, led by Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazak Ibrahim, has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Dr. Nentawe Yilwadta as Minister-designate in charge of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The group argued that the role ought be filled by a woman to ensure effective and compassionate leadership in addressing pressing humanitarian challenges and not just be treated as political compensation.
In a press statement in Kaduna on Wednesday, Ibrahim said: “We are calling on President Tinubu to reconsider the nomination and nominate someone with a track record of humanitarian successes.
It also expressed shock over the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State-designate for Foreign Affairs, questioning her contribution to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They alledged that Bianca is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
The group also faulted President Tinubu for nominating former Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as Minister of Women Affairs, describing it as unfortunate, alleging she performed poorly in her previous positions, even while serving in the Refugee Commission.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs should be headed by a woman who understands the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations in our society especially at a time that the President’s policy is biting hard on Nigerians.
“As a coalition, we believe that a woman in this position would bring essential perspectives and experiences that are vital for the ministry’s success”, Ibrahim said.
The group also emphasised that women have long been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, often demonstrating remarkable resilience and empathy in times of crisis.
He further said: “Women are not only caregivers but also powerful advocates for change. Their insights can drive more effective policies and programmes that truly meet the needs of those they serve”.
The coalition warned that it would organise protests across the country if the President submits Yilwadta’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation.
It stressed that it is committed to mobilising public support to highlight the importance of female leadership in humanitarian affairs. “We will not rest until the right choice is made. This is about ensuring that women’s voices are not only heard but prioritised in decision-making.
“Meanwhile, we do not want it to be that we are targeting Humanitarian Affairs alone. The state Minister of Police Affairs was appointed as Minister of Women Affairs. We reject this in totality because her tenure as Minister of State for Police Affairs and her tenure in the Refugee Commission do not reflect any need for her appointment as she performed poorly”, the group said.
