Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is advocating a legal framework to enforce gender equity in appointments and the sharing of political offices, among others, to ensure fair inclusion of women.
Tinubu observed that as much as there had been much talk about gender equity, political officeholders and political parties had not matched the talk with action.
She challenged all stakeholders to walk the talk.
The president’s wife made the call on Monday at the spotlight initiative of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) held at the Senate in Abuja.
“To fully achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk,” Tinubu told the session.
The first lady praised the House of Representatives for sponsoring a bill to allocate 70 out of the 360 seats in the House to women.
As part of efforts to promote the interests of women, Tinubu said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had taken significant steps to remove financial barriers by making nomination forms for elective positions free at the grassroots level.
She added that this would enable capable and qualified women to participate in the political process without the burden of prohibitive costs.
The First Lady further stated that after years of advocacy without desired results, legally backed enforcement may be put in place to change the narratives.
Tinubu said, “While quotas and education are essential, enforcement of these measures is equally critical. Governments must put robust mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with gender quotas.
“This includes legal frameworks and monitoring systems that hold political parties accountable.
“Constitutional amendments may also be necessary to enshrine gender equity in political representation.
“Such amendments would provide a solid legal foundation for women’s adequate representation, ensuring that gender equity is not just a policy preference but a constitutional mandate.
“The journey towards achieving 30% women’s representation in our parliament is achievable once we take the bold step to kick-start the journey to an enduring democracy of quality representation.
“I commend the Federal House of Representatives for passing the bill seeking to reserve 70 seats for women in the National Assembly in a bid to encourage more female participation in politics and governance.
‘I believe that the leadership in the Senate is gender-friendly and urge the 10th National Assembly to give women the necessary support.
“Nigerian women are smart and intelligent and can work alongside our male counterparts without friction for the good and development of our country.”
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