Rights Commission backs moves to increase women participation in lawmaking

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in Nigeria, has commended the move by the Nigerian Parliament to enact laws that would increase the number of women participation in lawmaking in the country to 111 seats in order to bridge the current low representation of women in legislative Houses in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, noted that the Commission had on many occasions collaborated with various Civil Society Organization, CSO, UNDP and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs  in proposing for more Women Participation in Elections  Bills and other related bills that would  give legal backing to affirmative action towards widening the political space for women participation in politics and governance in the country.

In   a statement by the Deputy Director Public Affairs of the NHRC, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the bill when passed into law would help Nigeria tap the full potentials of women in elective offices for the sustainable and improved exploitation of the Human Resources thereby fast tracking the country’s development.

According to the Chief Human Rights Officer, “The Commission would continue to show solidarity in every advocacy towards the passage of the Bill into law as well as support them in championing other causes to further protect women from discrimination and other human rights violations” 

Mr. Ojukwu also lauded the efforts of the Minister of Women Affairs in Nigeria,  Dame Pauline Tallen and Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha for promoting and sponsoring the Bill seeking to create 111 additional special seats for women in the National Assembly.

“In Nigeria, most of the laws and policies need affirmative action to be mainstreamed so that all can  appreciate and understand issues bothering on female gender” the statement added.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary commended the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila for supporting this very laudable legislative initiative.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen in a press statement in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital said the Bill seeking to create 111 additional special seats for women in the National Assembly has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

“When passed into law, 37 additional seats will be created in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women and one additional member’s seat  from each of the three Senatorial districts in the state will be created exclusively for women in each state House of Assembly“, the Minister stated.

She however noted that the Bill is subject to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure.

Ime N