The People‘s Democratic Party (PDP) woman leader, Hon Amina Darasimi Bryhm has called for a deliberate effort to increase women‘s representation in politics.
The woman leader who is also the president Forum of National Women Leaders emphasized the need for intentional and deliberate efforts to boost women‘s representation in politics, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
She made this disclosure at the regional strategic workshop on women‘s participation in politics and leadership in North Central Nigeria with the theme “From Margins to mainstream: Improving women‘s political participation in Nigeria.”
She called for deliberate legislation from the National Assembly to the government. „Rwanda leads in women‘s representation due to strategic and deliberate government efforts. It took 30 years, but they ensured women‘s representation from grassroots to top levels”.
She also recommended that the Nigerian government implement the 35% women‘s representation stated in the constitution, party constitutions, and manifestos. She urged reduced prices for declaration of interest forms so that women can afford to run for office without relying on handouts. “We want equal opportunities, not pity,”she added.
“Deliberate action is needed. We have provisions in our Constitution and party constitutions, but they‘re not enforced. Women leaders are now engaging with the National Assembly to address this. We propose that party offices have a chairman and deputy of opposite genders to increase women‘s representation.
“Rwanda‘s example shows that deliberate government efforts can achieve significant women‘s representation. We need specific actions, like setting aside special seats for women, to bring more women into politics. This way, men will know those seats are reserved for women, and it will be a deliberate step towards gender equality.“
Executive director, BAOBAB initiative, Yeye Bunmi Dipo- Salami, said „Women are tired of just discussing statistics and problems. We want solutions. We need to know what to do to support each other and how to take action. It‘s not a one-size-fits-all approach, as women‘s perspectives and experiences differ from men‘s. We‘ve been socialized to care for our communities, and now we‘re working on a larger project to develop a national action plan“.
“We‘re building a movement of women at national, state, and local government levels to ensure their voices are heard. We started in the Southwest and are now in the North Central. Next, we‘ll be in the Southeast and South South Nigeria. Although the issues are similar, there may be unique challenges in each zone. For example, women‘s experiences in Lagos differ from those in other areas. We want to understand these nuances and work together to create change,“ she added.
In the same vein, committee chairman CSOs and Development House of Representatives, Abuja, Hon Victor Obuzour informed, „We‘ve addressed gender issues, and the Deputy Speaker of the House has sponsored a bill to provide 74 special seats for women in the National Assembly.“
According to him, „The bill aims to improve women‘s participation in politics and is currently in its second reading. After the public hearing, it may proceed to the third reading and hopefully pass with support.
“The roles of these representatives will be similar to others, and the bill outlines how these seats will be allocated. Besides this bill, the National Assembly is working on other legislation to promote women‘s representation in politics, including five bills that were previously turned down but are being re-introduced“.
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