Friday 4 September 2015

APPOINTMENTS: WOMEN'S GROUPS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER EXCLUSION OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Some Nigerian women organizations under the auspices of Women In Politics Forum (WIPF) have expressed concern over what they see as the neglect of women in President Muhammadu Buhari's recent appointment of principal officers. The women raised the concern at a news conference in Abuja, Thursday, 3rd September, 2015. Some of the women groups present are:

*National Peace Summit Group (NPSG) - Gender & Conflict Transformation Section
Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa
*Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF)
Mrs. Funke Baruwa
*HADIS Foundation
Dr. Amina Salihu
*International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Barr. Hauwa Shekarau

The President of WIPF, Barrister Ebere Ifendu decried the non-inclusion of women thus: "It is inaccurate for anyone to believe that governance can be successful in a democratic setting in Nigeria without the inclusion of a critical segment of its population - women...President Buhari has so far appointed at least 35 principal officers, with only one woman, Mrs Amina Zakari, who is the Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)."

The following are the demands of the women:

*Full implementation of the 35% affirmative action as contained in the National Gender Policy (NGP) and other promises made to Nigerian women during the President's campaign.
*The appointment of the INEC Chairperson should be made substantive, and all other appointments of INEC Commissioners should be gender sensitive and in line with the NGP.
*In implementing the NGP, attention should be paid to integrity, intellectual capability, credibility, administrative competence and antecedents of the appointees.
*The Ministry of Women Affairs should be strengthened to monitor, evaluate and support the implementation of projects targeted at improving the life of women and girls in Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs).

5th April, 2016

*Groups call for women's sensitisation, participation in politics    guardian.ng/news/groups-call-womens/sensitisation-participation-in-politics/
*Buhari's appointments & the theory of access by Jibrin Ibrahim    https://t.co/1qm5s8dTMt    opinion.premiumtimes.com/2016/07/11/173838/    https://t.co/AE9wJ8F2lO