Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, A Non Governmental Organization, Women in Politics Forum has stressed the need for elected women in both the upper and lower Chambers of the assembly to be appointed into principal offices for gender equality.
The President, Women in Politics Forum, Mrs Ebere Ifendu made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja.
Mrs Ifendu who identified the roles of women as critical in national development urged the National assembly to uphold the provisions of the National gender policy to ensure gender inclusiveness when zoning Principal offices in the National Assembly.
“Women In Politics Forum has called this press conference to address a critical issue that will affect Nigerian women’s representation in decision making offices in this new phase of democracy ushered in by the 2023 general elections.I congratulate all 78 women who have been elected across Nigeria to various offices contested on the 25th of February and 11th of March 2023”.
”We are particularly interested in the House of Representatives election for principal office where we have female members as some of the high-ranking officers in the house with some returning for the 4th time. It will therefore be completely disregarding to Nigerian women if, with the caliber and ranking of female parliamentarians in the House of Representatives, no female member ranks among the principal officers of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly.
Today, one year after the judgement on the implementation of the National gender policy, which was granted in favor of Nigerian women by Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court,’’
She said all political parties with higher representation in the Parliament should also ensure they give full support to female members elect from their parties in the national assembly which she noted would enable them bring to the front burner pertinent issues that concerns woman in the country.
Reporting by Yosi Ardel: Editing by Daniel Adejo