Allocate Three Principal Positions to Female Lawmaker, Coalition Tells APC

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

A coalition of women groups yesterday tasked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allocate three seats out of ten principal positions to women in the 10th National Assembly.

The coalition, comprising Women in Business (WIMBIZ) and Women Advocates Research Documentation Centre (WARDC), said office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives to a female lawmaker.

It made the call at a news conference addressed by the Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akioye and her WIMBIZ counterpart, Hansatu Adegbite in Abuja yesterday.

At the news conference, the coalition called the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allocate three seats out of ten principal positions to female lawmakers.

Preferably, the coalition challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, implement the gender policy inclusion, noting that it was nothing short of 35 percent affirmative action.

According to the coalition, there are female members of the House of Representatives, who have served for over four consecutive periods and are qualified for principal positions.

It lamented that even at committee levels, women “are not given grade ‘A’ positions to head,” thereby calling for the application of more resources with reference to maternal mortality.

It added that the National Assembly “must work towards ensuring that matters of gender are well catered for. Women will continue to make demands, lobby, talk to state governors and will be open to negotiations that will be in favour of Nigerian women.

“We are aware that they have zoned the leadership of the House, but we are demanding that a woman be elected for the deputy speakership. Out of the ten major slots, three should be given to wen and this is not much.

“Inclusivity is needed and a lot of them have been there and are ranking officers. 35 percent affirmative action on gender inclusivity is directed to Mr. President. There is no way women issues can be prioritised without affirmative action and this has to start with the National Assembly.”

Also at the conference, Adegbite clarified that several women came out to contest for the position of deputy speaker, but were eliminated by the party as a result of zoning.

She said “We cannot have over 100 females and almost 50 percent of the population in Nigeria. There’s no female on the table to speak on behalf of Nigerian women.”