Falana Backs Increased Representation For Women In National, State Assemblies

A women’s rights advocate, Mrs Funmi Falana (SAN), has backed the push for increased women’s representation in the National and State Assemblies.

Mrs Falana, the director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), also lamented that children and women are the worst affected by the renewed insecurity in the country.

She spoke in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, after holding her annual Christmas party with the children of the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home.

The move, according to her, will ensure that more social safety is provided for children, women and all Nigerians.

The agitation, through a proposed constitutional amendment, the “Reserved Seats for Women Bill,” aims to address the systemic underrepresentation of women by creating temporary, additional seats (37 in the Senate, 37 in the House, and 3 per State Assembly) for women.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who presented cash gifts, food items, soft drinks, beverages and other items to children, said, “Definitely, increased representation of women will make the difference in governance, and that’s why we have continued to say that women are marginalised.

“And when we say let women do it, and let’s see the difference. Nigerians have continued to have male presidents, and women should be given a chance to lead. I believe women can do better because they have the heart of compassion. Women will be more honest with the government because they are not going to mismanage resources”.

The wife of human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) said she always dedicates the period and the occasion to show love and give hope to the children, reminding them that the future belongs to them, which should be the practice of all well-to-do Nigerians.

Dwelling on the security situation in the country and its effect on women and children, she said, “Usually in any society, children and women are usually the most vulnerable, and it is very sad that even the future is bleak for them.

“The home is not secured so you see that children are being picked up in the northern parts they go to their school and pick them up so these are the things we find there and it’s unfortunate that these children who are not the architect of where they have been born to but they just found themselves been born into Nigeria it’s unfortunate that they have found themselves in this situation and I want to tell Nigerians that these (children) will not forgive them if our leaders do not stand up to resist this evil and defend Nigerians and restructure this from such that we can have security proper security”.