Nigerian women have crossed the 35% threshold while they wait for President Tinubu’s ministerial list.
Their valid concerns is based on fact that recent appointments by the President revealed that only 25 per cent of women are special assistants and 15 per cent of women were personal aides.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered the federal government to enforce the National Gender Policy by allotting 35 per cent of appointments in the public sector to women, in April 2022.
In line with this order, the APC campaign action plan for a better Nigeria gave assurances to increase women’s participation to at least 35 per cent in all government positions. No government since the Fourth Republic has achieved the appointment of 35 per cent women as ministers.
Women are hopeful that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will achieve this feat by appointing 35 per cent females in his ministerial cabinet for the benefit, progress and development of Nigeria.
The executive director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, told me that 13 African countries have mandated reserved seats for female federal lawmakers. For instance, South Africa reserved 46 per cent; Senegal, 41 per cent; Ethiopia, 38 per cent, Akiyode-Afolabi said, while calling on President Tinubu to fulfill his campaign promise of ensuring 35 per cent of Nigerian women made his ministerial list.
Also, director of Sustainable Gender Action (SGA), Mufuliat Fijabi emphasised that other African countries have made considerable progress in women’s representation, calling for the 35 per cent affirmative action.
Similarly, the national president, FIDA, Amina Agbaje, echoed the need for gender equity and transparency in the President’s list urging women groups to send a delegation to the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to lobby for the consideration.
National President of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala, emphasised that media engagements were critical to keeping the advocacy for 35 per cent affirmative action for women ongoing to garner the attention it deserves.
Deputy chief whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Adewummi Onanuga, also expressed her confidence in President Tinubu to deliver on his promises on the ministerial list, while Barrister Jamila Babuba, APC Professional Women North East Coordinator, expressed assurance that the President would appoint at least 35 per cent women in his cabinet.
A PDP member and social justice advocate, Chikas Kumle, highlighted the critical role of women in an inclusive government, urging President Tinubu to include at least 35 per cent of APC women on his ministerial list.
Programmes Officer WRAPA, Nigeria, Zainab Abdulrasheed, highlighted the importance of inclusive advocacy on behalf of marginalised and excluded voices in implementing the 35 per cent affirmative action to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
Former deputy director NHRC, Saka Azimazi, called for grassroots advocacy and male support to achieve affirmative action for women at all levels of government. Enebi Opaluwa, Senior Research and Policy Analyst BudgIT lamented the absence of women in policy-making processes in Nigeria.