Cabinet Reshuffle: CSOs Fault Exclusion Of Women In Humanitarian Ministry

The Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (CCSON) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for not appointing at least one woman to lead the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, stressing that the current all-male leadership undermines gender balance and effective service delivery.

Addressing a press conference at Arewa House in Kaduna, the coalition’s national coordinator, Comrade Aminu Abbas Arabi, criticised the recent appointments of Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu as the senior and junior ministers of the ministry

.”It is unacceptable for both the senior and junior ministers to be male. We appeal to the President to reconsider and replace one of the ministers with a woman who can better address the plight of the less privileged,” he said.

He further said the ministry’s humanitarian focus makes it more suitable for female leadership and urged the president to reconsider the appointments. According to him, the failure of previous female ministers should not deter the government from appointing qualified women to head such a sensitive ministry.

Arabi argued that Prof. Yilwatda’s background in computer science and lack of experience in humanitarian work could worsen Nigeria’s poverty situation, while Dr Sununu’s tenure as minister of state for education had little impact. “This combination is not what Nigerians need at a time when the country is grappling with economic challenges,” he said.

The coalition appealed to the president to replace one of the ministers with a woman who would better serve the needs of the vulnerable and promote gender equality.

The coalition also raised concerns about the credibility of the appointees, pointing out that Yilwatda had never won any elections he contested, casting doubt on his leadership abilities in the ministry. They emphasized the need for the president to uphold gender balance in his cabinet, stating that the appointment of more women would help drive the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the administration.

In its appeal, the coalition called on the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to use her influence to advocate for more women in leadership positions and push for policies that would empower women, youth, and children. The group stressed that Nigeria’s ongoing economic hardships required a team that understood the country’s humanitarian needs and could deliver on the promises of the current administration.