The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the number of women he would nominate as ministers and other public offices.
The group, through its Director, Dr Abiola Akiyode- Afolabi states that: ‘following the return to democratic governance in 1999, the number of women in the parliament steadily increased from a paltry three per cent and peaked at about nine per cent in 2007 and we have seen a steady decline since then. Currently, only 5.5 per cent of women made it to the Eighth National Assembly.’ Furthermore she states that ‘the implication of this is that without a deliberate attempt by the present Government, women’s voices in the affairs of the country will decrease tremendously.
“Increasing the number of women in any democratic government is reaffirming commitment to democratic ethos and constitutional provisions for an all- inclusive government. Thus demanding the appointment of capable women, is not asking for favour but a legitimate democratic requirement for any people oriented government.’
Dr Akiyode-Afolabi further states that: ‘The President during his campaign at the Lagos Town hall Meeting with Women, openly promised the Nigerian women better representation in his government, he should not relent in his effort to fulfil this promise,’ she states further that, ‘there are qualified and capable women all across the country and the President should not close his eyes to the great potential these qualified women can bring into the ‘change mantra’ and his government .”
She also warns Buhari not to lower the past record set by President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed 13 female Ministers out of the 40 Ministers, in the last dispensation.
“Although the All progressive Congress (APC) has clear provisions on how to improve and encourage women’s political participation, we are afraid that the Presidents’ body language has not demonstrated its much belief in engendering the polity,” she said.
She also called on the Senate to ignore calls that Ms Amina Ibrahim be dropped because she is from Gombe State and her husband hails from Kaduna, saying women cannot be made stateless in their own country.
“Ms Ibrahim remains one of the best brains in this country and she has proven to be a good ambassador both nationally and internationally, she can therefore not be disqualified for the reasons of her marriage or state of origin,” she said.
The group however praised the Governors of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for their female nominations.
“These two Governors have been showing in their conducts expected responsiveness and sensitivity to an inclusive government, a key factor necessary for democracy,” the statement said.