2023 Elections: First Lady seeks adequate women’s representation
Ahead of the 2023 General Election, the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called for adequate support for women’s participation and representation.
Mrs Buhari made the call on Wednesday when she made history by being the first- First Lady to attend the plenary sessions in both chambers of the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives.
Constitution review:
House receives reports on 68 amendment bills, set to begin voting on March 2, as Aisha Buhari visits to canvass support for women
The House of Representatives on Wednesday admitted reports on 68 bills seeking to further amend the 1999 Constitution. pic.twitter.com/BZtnndXHlP
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) February 23, 2022
The First Lady, while visiting, shared her joy at observing proceedings on the laying of the report for the 1999 Constitution review and working for the good of women in the House and the coming elections.
“I am here to witness the laying of a report on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, which provides a bill for an act to alter the provisions for the constitution to provide special seats for women in the National and State House of Assemblies. It also provides an act for affirmative action for women in political party administration.”
During the session, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remark, welcomed the First Lady and praised her for boosting the confidence of the Nigerian women by pushing for the bill in the 1999 constitutional amendment that would encourage more female parliamentarians.
He assured her that the Ninth Assembly would ensure that women’s participation in governance corresponds with the growing Nigerian population.
“This, we believe, will help in nation-building, and significant participation by our women will add value to not only legislation but the much desired and needed national development.”
In the same vein, the Speaker, House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila, who welcomed the First Lady, commended her efforts to canvass support for women’s welfare and political participation in the country.
He added that her commitment continues to strongly influence the growth and empowerment of many women and groups in society.
The First Lady’s visit was made in good company as the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, and several other women delegates joined her in solidarity to empower women in politics and chart the course for women’s participation in the House and the coming elections.
Meanwhile, as sixty-eight amendments are being handled, lawmakers are expected to vote by March 1, 2022.
The amendments concerned several provisions of which an appeal for specific seats for women legislators in the National and State Assemblies was prominent on the list.
