More Advocates for Women in Government: Tinubu’s Administration Urged to Prioritise Women in Appointive Offices

The incoming administration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been urged to adhere to the rule of law and mainstream women in appointive offices, as prescribed in the National Gender Policy and other international instruments.

The call was made by Honourable Oluga Taiwo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Women in Parliament, at a press briefing co-organised with the Nigeria Women Trust Fund, in Abuja on Monday May 8. The call came amid concerns about the under–representation of women in leadership positions in Nigeria.

Hon. Taiwo highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming in governance, stating that women constitute over 50% of the population and their contributions to nation-building cannot be over-emphasised. She noted that gender mainstreaming was not just about meeting the 35% affirmative action in appointments, but also about ensuring that women are appointed based on merit.

“We have competent women who can occupy appointive offices across board and contribute to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. It is therefore imperative that the incoming administration mainstreams women in appointive offices, as prescribed in the National Gender Policy and other international instruments,” she said.

At the briefing, a female aspirant for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, and two aspirants for Deputy Speaker, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga and Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, also spoke. They called for greater inclusion of women in leadership positions and urged the incoming administration to prioritise gender mainstreaming in all aspects of governance.

Hon. Onanuga and Hon. Akande-Sadipe stressed that “The National Gender Policy and other international instruments have made it mandatory for governments to mainstream gender in all aspects of governance, including appointments. We expect the incoming administration to adhere to these principles across board”.

In her remarks, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Women Trust Fund, noted that despite the country’s adoption of the National Gender Policy and other international instruments, women continue to be marginalised in politics and decision-making processes.

She, however, stressed that the incoming administration of President-elect Bola Tinubu has the opportunity to change the narrative, and ensure greater inclusion of women in governance.