By Comfort Olayinka
…Gender Parity in Politics,PLAC Executive Director Makes Case
Mr Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has emphasized the need for increased women participation in Nigerian politics and decision-making processes.
Currently, women make up less than 4% of representatives in Nigeria’s state Assemblies and National Assembly. Nwankwo stressed this point during the international legislative dialogue on women and constitution amendment in Nigeria, organized by the European Union, PLAC and the House Committee on Constitution Review.
The proposed constitution alteration bill aims to address this imbalance by creating additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. These seats would be contested and filled by women only, serving as a temporary measure to boost women’s representation. This provision would be reviewed after four general election cycles, approximately 16 years, to determine whether to retain, increase or abolish the measure.
Nwankwo suggested creating special seats for women at party levels and fostering a conducive environment for women to compete in existing constituencies. He highlighted Nigeria’s alarming statistics: only 55 women out of 990 members in state Houses of Assembly and 20 women out of 469 members in the National Assembly.
To effect change, Nwankwo emphasized the importance of educating citizens on women’s potential in political leadership. Involving the National Orientation Agency and leveraging media coverage would increase awareness and build support for women’s representation. This collective effort would pave the way for passing the special seats bill.
The PLAC Executive Director’s advocacy aligns with UN Women’s efforts to empower women and promote gender equality. UN Women collaborates with government institutions, civil society organizations and media outlets to dismantle harmful stereotypes and promote women’s leadership.
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
