Ministerial list: 168 women groups protest, write Lawan
- The recently released ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari continues to generate reactions
- The list comprises 43 nominees coming from across all 36 states and Federal Capital Territory with 7 women
- 168 women groups have expressed their displeasure over the low representation of women and exclusion of youths and people living with disability on the list
As the recently released ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari continues to generate reactions, 168 women groups have expressed displeasure over the low representation of women on the list.
The groups are also not happy over the neglect of youths and people living with disability on the list.
The groups, therefore, wrote a letter to the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, kicking against the list and asking the National Assembly to intervene.
In the letter seen by Legit.ng on Thursday, July 25, the women groups expressed disappointment at the 87% male dominated ministerial list.
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“This list maintains and reinforces the historical exclusion of women in the country, ignores the youth and people living with disabilities and thus inhibits the critical goal of achieving meaningful, equitable and participatory national development.
“The list submitted by Mr. President reneges on the repeated campaign promises by his government and creates a crisis of confidence in the integrity of our elected political leadership.
“Therefore, we write to convey a clear message of national importance to the nation, Mr. President, the legislature and those nominated as ministers.
“We wish to remind you about the unavoidable consequences of failing to use the appointment exercise as a tool to steer the affairs of country towards a desirable and sustainable future. Such a future is as conceived by well received and established best practices and obligations arising from the 2030 Global Agenda of the United Nations,” the groups stated.
They asked senators to serve as advocates and representatives of the millions of excluded groups who thy say have been ignored and marginalized by the Buhari's government.
Specifically, they demanded that equity is done in terms of the numbers, spread, roles and location in governance and government by female nominees, such that the few women on any list are not consigned to insignificance.
“We ask that Senate note in particular, that 30-35% has been reserved in some national policy documents, and that within our national laws, there are provisions that categorically call for the inclusion of youth and persons with disabilities.
“We ask Senate to recall and operationalize the provisions of the 2006 National Gender Policy and the constitution of the ruling APC on these issues,” the women groups noted.
The letter was signed on behalf of the women groups by Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, executive director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center; Ms. Ebere Ifendu, convener, Women in Politics Forum; Dr. Felicia Onibon, founder, 100 Women Lobby Group and Dr. Nkoyo Toyo, CEO, Gender and Development Action.
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Similarly, civil society organisation, YIAGA AFRICA, has expressed displeasure over the exclusion of youths from the recently released ministerial nominees by the president.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, July 24 and signed by its executive director, Samson Itodo, YIAGA AFRICA stated that the decision of the president was a surprise.
“It is indeed disappointing to see that despite the giant strides made my young people especially in the area of politics and leadership, President Muhammadu Buhari has not seen any person below the age of 35 worthy of any ministerial position,” Itodo lamented.
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