WIPF Call For Increased Women Representation In Abia

 

Women In Politics Forum (WIPF) Laments Lack Of  Women Representation In Abia State 

.....Call For Increased Women Representation Through Enactment Of Gender Inclusive Legislation. 

The President of Women In Politics Forum (WIPF) Barr. Ebere Ifendu in a statement issued in Monday lamented lack of women representation in Abuja state, stressing that in both the previous and current dispensation, Abia state ranks among the 14 states without a female member of the state assembly. According to Barr. Ifendu, the state also does not have any female members in the National Assembly either and in the state cabinet, there are only 2 women serving as commissioners.

Read Statement In Full: 

Good day ladies and gentlemen of the press, partners, colleagues in the civil society space, ladies and gentlemen. The Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) is a non-partisan Forum for Women which recognizes the marginalization of Women in Politics, decision-making and the importance of unity, regardless of Party affiliation, to give a voice to women in Leadership.

The Organization was registered as the Organization for Women Advocacy in Leadership Advancement in Nigeria was registered under the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission and Registered the Trademark of Women in Politics Forum.

Over the years, Women In Politics Forum has been vocal on the need for increased women representation in political offices in Nigeria which continues to be a problem with the current constitution of women representation in governance which is merely 6% while the reality is that women in Nigeria constitute 49% of Nigeria’s population. Sadly, in both the previous and current dispensation, Abia state ranks among the 14 states without a female member of the state assembly. The state also does not have any female members in the National Assembly either. And in the state cabinet, there are only 2 women serving as commissioners.

This gender disparity in the representation of women in a state that has produced prominent female politicians has been a major concern to WIPF which is why we have initiated this campaign for the enactment of gender responsive legislation in Abia state. 

After consultations with members of the Abia State Assembly, Directors at the National Institute for Legislative  and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and strategic women groups and Civil Society actors in Abia state, a draft gender representation bill has been presented by the Women In Politics Forum to the Speaker of the Abia state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emeka Emeruwa who in turn gracefully accepted the bill with a promise to present same to the larger house consisting of all members of the 7th Abia state assembly.

The draft bill, if enacted, makes provision for inclusive gender representation in appointive and elective positions in Abia state, extending to include the composition of public agencies of the state. The bill also seeks to prohibit the discrimination of any person based on age, sex or disability. Hence, by doing so, the bill will improve social inclusion and representation in the Abia state government and public space.

This call for inclusive representation is made because inclusion is a major hallmark of true Democracy and the women in Abia state are well deserving of having their voice, input and representation in governing Abia state else we fear that the government may just be the government of men and not the government of the people.

In view of this, Women In Politics Forum calls on strategic stakeholders to fulfill the following in making the enactment of the Abia state gender responsive bill a success;

We call on the leadership of the Abia state assembly to support and promote the passage of this gender representation bill as law in Abia state.

We call on all members of the Abia state Assembly to co sponsor the gender representation bill and vote to pass the bill and enact the gender representation law of Abia State.

We call on women’s rights groups and Civil society actors in Abia state to join and amplify the advocacy for inclusive governance and the passage of the bill by the Abia state assembly.

We call on the media to prioritize this legislative revolution for inclusive governance and promote related issues through the media.

We call on the Governor of Abia State, H.E Dr. Alex Otti, to assent to the gender representation bill when passed by the Abia state Assembly so the bill can become law.

We call on all agencies of Abia state to ensure that the provisions of the bill are duly complied with upon the enactment of the bill.

I urge everyone to own and prioritize this legislative revolution for gender and social inclusion in governance in Abia state.