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NASS mulls measures to increase women’s participation in governance

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7 months ago

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The National Assembly says it is working on numerous bills  and  measures to increase the participation of women in both elected and appointive offices in Nigeria.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, made this known at a one-day High Level National Summit on Women Inclusion on Thursday in Abuja.
The summit was organised by  the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development ( CLSD), with support from  the Commonwealth and Development Office through the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Tajudeen, represented by Ms. Fatima Talba, Chair, Women in Parliament, National Assembly, said that women constituted approximately 49.45 per cent of Nigeria’s total population as at 2023 but it does not reflect so in governance.
The speaker said that the participation of women in politics has remained relatively low since 2015, adding that had the gender bills rejected by the 9th assembly scaled through, the situation would have been different .
He, however, said the 10th Assembly was  committed to reversing the negative trend and ensuring increased women inclusion in governance through some initiatives.
” Firstly, we are reintroducing and supporting the Bill on special seats for women as part of our constitutional amendment efforts.
” This initiative aims to provide immediate representation for women in legislative bodies while we work towards long-term solutions.
” We will advocate for legislation that increases women’s representation in elective positions by creating special women-only seats within both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
Tajudeen said that the assembly would encourage State Houses of Assembly to adopt similar measures.
He  added  that the assembly recognised the need for electoral reforms to mandate political parties to include a certain percentage of female candidates within their leadership structures.
The speaker said  that the assembly  was working towards the passage of the Gender Equal Opportunity Bill to ensure that women were active and equal participants in Nigeria’s political and decision-making processes.
Tajudeen added that  oversight has been strengthened to ensure compliance with the National Gender Policy and court judgment on the full implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action on appointive and elective positions in both the public and private sectors.
A member of Ekiti House of Assembly, Abimbola Solanke said the inclusion of women in governance was not merely a matter of gender equality but a critical component of the  nation’s progress.
“Women bring unique perspectives, strengths, and solutions to the table, and their full participation in governance is essential to building a more just, equitable, and prosperous society,”she said.
The Keynote Speaker , Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam,said  the constitutional inclusion of women was not an option but a national development imperative.
Para-Mallam said,”If Nigeria is to take its rightful place among the comity of nations and function as a globally competitive economy, it must as a matter of  urgency, put in place appropriate constitutional, legal, policy and institutional mechanisms.
“This is  to maximise its human resource base across the rich diversity of the demographic landscape.
” In  terms of quantity and quality, Nigerian women constitute the most educated, enterprising and hard working women on the African continent and even in the world.
“Thus, their abysmally low representation in governance constitutes an unequivocal evidence of the need for far-reaching constitutional reform towards building a nation where there are equal opportunities and comparable development outcomes for all.”
Founding Executive Director, Centre LSD,Otive Igbuzor, expressed hope that the 10th assembly would pass the five gender bills rejected by the 9th assembly to increase women’s participation in politics.
He said, “All over the world, it has been recognised that if you want to accelerate development, you need to include women.
“It is not a favour done to women. It is  not just good politics, but it is also good economics, and inclusion of women is not an option but a development imperative.”
The Deputy Chair of the Centre  LSD,Hauwa Mustapha, said the low participation of women in politics was worrisome and that was why the centre put the summit together to seek the way forward.
Mustapha said there was the need to understand the reasons women were excluded from governance and address them from the grassroots to increase inclusion. (NAN
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Politics

How mega opposition coalition can defeat Tinubu in 2027 election —Ex-presidential candidate

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11 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.

Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,

“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.

“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.

“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.

“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.

“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.

He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.

Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.

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He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested

Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.

He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.

NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.

Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)

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APC grants Governor Otu automatic ticket for 2027 election

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20 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Monday granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.

Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s Chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.

Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.

He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.

“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.

He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”

He added that even if Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.

“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Eba stated.

He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.

Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Tinubu’s decision.

He applauded the President for restoring peace in Rivers, preventing a political crisis. (NAN)

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Natasha Confirms Sallah Visits Despite Kogi Rally Ban

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20 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday, announced that she would not back out on her plan to return to her constituency for the Sallah break.

The senator also urged her supporters to disregard speculations making the round that she has cancelled her scheduled visit.

She disclosed this in a statement issued by her media team in the early hours of Tuesday.

The statement read, “We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central Senatorial District will proceed as planned.

“Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.”

While stating that she has a statutory function in her capacity as the lawmaker representing her constituents, the senator encouraged her supporters to troop out en masse to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with her.

“As the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to engaging with her community and fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.

“Her dedication to the people of Kogi Central is unwavering, and she looks forward to celebrating Eid-el-Fitr with her constituents.

“We would like to assure the public that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a successful and joyous event. We invite all members of the community to join us in marking this special occasion,” the statement added.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s homecoming notification comes a few hours after the Kogi State Government banned rallies and public gatherings in the state over security reports.

The government also stopped fishing and other activities, lamenting that they resulted in the loss of two lives in Kasemiya, Katubo and Umozu Ette, all in Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said the move was to prevent any form of security breach that might destabilise the state.

Fanwo added that intelligence reports indicated that some persons were planning to “stage some violent rallies in the guise of political and religious agitations” in Kogi Central.

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