Story from Najib SANI, Bauchi
The Grassroots Centre Africa and Strengthening Advancement for Gender Equity (SAGE) project has lamented that women’s representation in politics and governance in Nigeria has continued to decline since 2007.
Mohammed Chiroma Hassan, executive director, Grassroots Centre Africa made the lamentation while presenting his submission during a zonal public hearing on constitution review held at command guest house in Bauchi.
According to him, women constitute about half of Nigeria’s population but occupy only one in every 10 elective and appointive positions in Nigeria.
“Women in Nigeria face many challenges in entering and remaining engaged in politics. Women’s political representation in Nigeria has steadily declined since 2007 and risks declining further without support and action from political leaders.
“Grassroots Centre Africa and 29 other CSOs in Bauchi state are calling on the senate in particular and the national assembly in general to improve the political and socio-economic rights of women. As our representatives, we call on you to adopt and pass the seven draft bills attached to this memorandum,” he pleaded.
He enumerated the proposed bill to include an act to further alter the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; to provide for gender equity in executive committees of political parties and gender diversity in appointive positions.
Others were providing for gender diversity in legislative leadership and executive positions, additional seats at the national assembly and state houses of assembly to be shared in proportionate representation of the political parties.
“Also, an act to further alter the provisions of the constitution to include freedom against all forms of violence including physical, sexual and psychological violence as part of right to dignity of human persons and related matters”. He said.
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