10 groups oppose petitions against Amina

Ten civil society organisations have risen to the support of Amina Mohammed, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees who appeared at the senate on Monday to defend herself against petitions seeking the nullification of her nomination.

Danjuma La’ah, a senator representing Kaduna south, had petitioned the senate, saying Mohammed was taking a Kaduna state slot despite hailing from Gome state.

But she stated emphatically that she would be representing the northeastern state, not Kaduna, in the cabinet.

Hours after the hearing, she received more support from the civil society organisations, which include Centre for Democracy Development (CDD), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Accountability Maternal New-born and Child Health in Nigeria (AMHiN), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC).

Others are West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), State of the Union (SOTU), Advocacy Nigeria and Women in Nigeria.

“We the undersigned members of civil society condemn in totality the ongoing baseless petitions, gender-biased submissions and selfish positions by unpatriotic persons or groups of persons against the appointment of Mrs. Amina Mohammed as a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari,” they said in a statement.

“We have observed some disgraceful efforts by some pocket-serving sycophants against the appointment of Mrs. Mohammed, who is a well-known woman with sterling credentials, credibility, experience, integrity and track records suitable for the Ministerial appointment.

“We have no hesitation to clearly state that in terms of experience, Mrs. Mohammed has distinguished herself in the field of human development for over 30 years both in the public and private sectors. Her passion and commitment towards improving the quality of lives of citizens of the world including poverty eradication is universally recognized and commended.

“Mrs. Mohammed’s vast experience and credibility both at national and international levels spurred her recognition and subsequent appointment as the Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning in 2012 by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She worked tirelessly, delicately and successfully to manage the process of adoption of the Social Development Goals. Nigerians are proud of her accomplishment when the United Nations General Assembly adapted the SDGs in September 2015.

“Between 2002 and 2005, she worked in the United Nations Millennium Project as a Coordinator of the Task Force on Gender and Education. In 1991, Mrs. Mohammed founded Afri-Projects Consortium, a multidisciplinary firm of Engineers and Quantity Surveyors, where she was Executive Director.Between 1981 and 1991, she worked with Archcon Nigeria in association with Norman and Dawbarn United Kingdom.

“It is worthy of note that Mrs. Mohammed has served on many international advisory boards and panels such as with the Gates Foundation and the UN Secretary General’s Global Sustainability Panel. In 2005 she was charged with the onerous responsibility of coordination of the debt relief funds ($1 billion per annum) towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. She served credible as Senior Special Assistant on MDGs.

“We find it worrisome that despite the commendable contributions by women to the nation’s socio-political development since democratic rule in 1999, they are under-represented in all key political decision making bodies in Nigeria including National and State Houses of Assembly. Although women constitute the greater number of voters in any of the elections held so far in the country, they are yet to be recognized appropriately.

“We call on the Senate to disregard unjustified submissions against Mrs. Mohammed confirm her as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”