The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with female politicians and parliamentarians of Nigeria with support from the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP), have stressed that there is need for a legal framework to encourage participation of more women in politics.
The executive secretary of NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, made the call in Abuja at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on women participation in elections’ support bill.
According to him, the bill, which is seeking for an Act to prescribe women quotas for elections into the Senate, House of Representatives, States of Assembly and the Area Councils of FCT to support and enhance women participation in certain elective offices and for related matters, has undergone its second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on the 24th January, 2019.
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He said, “It is important to mention that the enactment of this bill into Law will lead to the achievement of Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that seeks, among others, to strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at all levels thereby, leaving no one behind in the environment of civil and political rights in Nigeria.”
The ES added that the number of women representation in the political arena is quite insignificant compared to other countries, stressing that considering the challenges posed to women who contested in the past primaries and elections in Nigeria, there is need for positive action to avoid extinction of women in politics and elective offices.
On her part, the UNDP representative, Onyinye Ndubuisi, emphasised that Nigeria will definitely get to the next level if the bill is granted attention hence more women in political participation and national development.
According to her, the organisation decided to support the passage of the bill because of low participation of women in politics in Nigeria.
She added that women were disenfranchised and their mandates were taken from them so the Women Participation in Elections Support Bill when passed, would guarantee them space in politics.
