Gender equality advocates have called on the incoming administration to ensure the implementation of the National Gender Policy (NGP), in order to bring on board a greater number of women in the governance process.
The Chief Executive Officer of Gender Dynamix Consult Limited, Joyce Ahmadu led the call on Wednesday in Abuja during Public Conscience, an anti-corruption radio programme, produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG).
The Affirmative Action policy has been around in Nigeria since 2006, with successive governments failing to implement it. The policy, which was revised in 2022, demands that 50 per cent of women be involved in all governance processes, whether by election or appointment.
Ahmadu specifically urged the incoming government to ensure the activation of affirmative action that would guarantee females 50 per cent representations in government, as contained in the revised NGP, noting that adequate inclusion of women has the propensity of reducing public sector corruption.
She tasked the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be deliberate about including women in his administration, and emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed women into sensitive positions in his administration.
Ahmadu further said: “The President-Elect has to be much more deliberate. How does he see women in decision making? Does he see value in it? President Goodluck Jonathan made some achievements in improving women participation in governance. He went as far as including gender budgeting where some key ministries had specific budgets for women participation. Those are the kinds of things a leader who values women in governance would do.
“For the incoming government, I don’t know how gender sensitive he is, we need to see practical actions on the table. We believe that if we bring quality women on the table, they can change the dynamics. I will start by asking the president elect’s perspective in terms of gender mainstreaming. The President elect needs to be intentional about gender mainstreaming to promote gender equality”.
PRIMORG’s Media and Communications Officer, Chidozie Ogbonnaya also urged the incoming administration to follow through with the provisions of the revised NGP and ensure it runs an all-inclusive government.
Ogbonnaya noted that Nigerian women are doing exploits in the private sector and have also shown capacity before now in public service, which should encourage any administration in carrying them along. he appealed to Tinubu administration to implement the revised NGP
He said: “When you inherit a government, you inherit whatever policy is on ground, so the revised NGP is on ground.
“The incoming government can look at the NGP and increase the number of women in his cabinet, because, in the current Buhari administration, there is low representation of women and I believe Tinubu should raise the bar. So, I’m urging him to come in and raise the bar and assuage the complaints and the fact that many women were not able to get into leadership positions through elections”.
Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio programme used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.
It has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
