The Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, has made case for increased women participation in politics and decision making in Nigeria.
While interacting with newsmen during the international legislative dialogue on women and constitution amendment in Nigeria organized by European Union, PLAC and the House Committee on Constitution Review, Mr Clement emphasized the need to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s state Assemblies and the National Assembly, which is currently at less than 4%
The constitution alteration bill been considered seeks to remedy the low representation of women in Legislative Houses by providing for the creation of additional separate seats to be contested and filled by only women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as a temporary measure to promote women’s representation.
The provision is a temporary special measure as it is subjected to a review after four general election cycles of sixteen years for the purpose of either retaining, increasing, or abolishing the temporary measure.
Mr Clement suggested that the creation of special seats for women at Party levels and creating a conducive environment for women to compete in existing constituencies in the Constitution will enhance women’s participation in decision-making.
He said “This is convened to have a conversation and discussion and build consensus on the important need to increase the levels of women representation in Nigeria’s legislative houses, which is the state assemblies and the National Assembly.
“At the present time, you have less than 4% of women represented across the state bodies in the country. So the essence here is to sensitize, build up momentum and support, so that the number of women who are represented in the National Assembly and in the State House of Assemblies will increase
“Out of the 990 members of state Houses of Assembly, only 55 are women. And at the National Assembly, out of the 469 members of the National Assembly, you have just about 20 who are women.
“For us who believe in equality of rights, It is important that the National assembly takes this very seriously. The state Houses of assemble take this seriously, and hopefully there is a passage to an alteration to the Constitution to allow for special seats to be created for women, so that you have more women represented in decision making in the country.
“At the party level, they need to provide a more conducive opportunity and environment for women to compete with men for the seats that are already existing in the Constitution
Speaking further, Mr Clement also posited that involving National Orientation Agency to help create awareness and educate the public on the importance of women’s representation in politics as well as leveraging the media to help spread awareness and build support for the initiative will increase the awareness for women’s representation.
“I think that every avenue of creating awareness is important, because the legislators may pass the law, and then if the citizens don’t understand it, It creates its own challenges. I think that it is important that we educate our people to understand that women can also be part of political leadership in the country. And the more awareness we create on this, the more acceptable it is that this special seats bill passes. So you’re right. There’s a lot to do to create awareness. Everybody needs to be involved. The media is already involved, and we’re happy with that. There’s a lot to do, yes, and it’s important that we do it, he said
