As the stage is set for the inauguration of the eighth National Assembly (NASS), political pundits are curious about the elections of officers who will hold which positions in the assembly.
Dominance of elected male senators and representatives into the NASS in the last general elections notwithstanding, observers insist that the leadership of the assembly should be gender-friendly by adopting Affirmative Action in electing its principal officers.
They note that only few women won elections into NASS which negated the aim of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 that recommended 35 per cent Affirmative Action.
According to them, if the purpose of the action is to ensure gender balance in government bodies, then the leadership of NASS should consider women in key positions as it inaugurates its eighth session.
Critics, however, opine that appointments for women in principal positions in NASS are somewhat remote considering the names being recommended for such positions.
They observe that those senators-elected being speculated for a key position, particularly for senate presidency, include Sen. Bukola Saraki, Sen. George Akume and Sen. Ahmed Lawan.
They express concern that women are not even being considered for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
They recall that male candidates such as Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and Rep. Yakubu Dogara, among others, are frequently discussed for the position.
Women have then been asking what the effects of 35 per cent Affirmative Action are in democractic Nigeria.
They observe that three out of the eight women senators -elect are from the All Progressives Congress (APC) —Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Senators-elect Monsurat Sunmonu and Binta Garba.
In the opinion of some women, consideration should be given to Garba — the only woman-senator-elect from the northern part of the country.
For instance, Mrs Ebere Ufendu, the President of Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), decried a situation where only few women held principal positions, particularly in NASS in spite of their numbers and contributions to the development of the country.
“In the history of this country, no woman has been made the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Justice or Security Adviser.
“Even at the National Assembly, no female lawmaker has emerged as Senate-President or Deputy Senate-President.
“I call on the NASS and other stakeholders to consider the female senators-elect for principal offices this time; some of them, I know, are qualified to be principal officers.
“For instance, Senator-elect Binta Garba (APC-Adamawa North) has been in the House of Representatives for 12 years.
“She is a ranking lawmaker and she is qualified for a principal position in the senate,’’ she said.
Ufendu also called on the incoming administration to involve women in decision making.
Sharing similar view, Ms Ayisha Osori, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), a non-governmental organisation, said women had lost out with the results of the recent general elections.
“With the circumstance, it is pertinent that the incoming government should appoint more women into key positions to comply with the 35 per cent Affirmative Action.
“The national policy states that every ministry, board or any composition of decision making should have at least 35 per cent of women but we have never had that,’’ she said.
Osori said that women with experience and knowledge should be encouraged by politicians by appointing them to power.
Apart from non-inclusion of women in public offices, Sen. Helen Esuene, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Women Affairs, observed that discrimination against women had been a global phenomenon.
She, nonetheless, admitted that there has been significant improvement in the number of women appointed into political offices in Nigeria in recent time.
“But this is far from the 35 per cent Affirmative Action compliance being demanded by women globally.
“Affirmative Action is not a favour to womenfolk but an initiative that would begin the process of correcting the many years of wrong and inappropriate actions against women,’’ she said.
In the process of correcting the past perceived discrimination against women, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, the President of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, called on President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the 35 per cent Affirmative Action by appointing more women into various political offices.
According to her, women are vital part of decision-making process of any government and there is need to involve more women in the cabinet of the next administration.
“The Jonathan administration made history, ensuring that women hit 35 per cent Affirmative Action by giving women positions in public offices.
“There was a lot of clamour for the same to be done for elective positions but we were not able to reach that.
“The fact that we were able to reach 35 per cent for the first time in the history of Nigeria is an achievement,’’ she said.
She noted that the appointments of women into those positions would convince the citizenry that women were resourceful if they are given the opportunity to serve the country.
Omowole expressed optimism that by 2019, women would emerge more in elective positions to further strengthen the 35 per cent Affirmative Action in the country by the incoming administration.
All in all observers say that if women are given more opportunity to fill principal positions, especially in NASS, Nigeria’s political landscape will get better.

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