Abbas wants all APC female reps included in party’s NEC

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to include all its female members in the lower chamber in the party’s national executive committee (NEC). 

The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, comprising state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the board of trustees (BoT), principal officers of the national assembly, all state chairmen, members of the national working committee (NWC), former governors, and founding members, among others.

Speaking on Thursday at the Nigerian women leadership and empowerment conference in Abuja, Abbas said he told the party’s leadership at the NEC meeting on Wednesday to consider female lawmakers as members.

The speaker said he has also directed the inclusion of all women in the green chamber into the committee on constitutional amendment, noting that it will enhance women’s political participation and economic empowerment.

There are currently 15 women in the house of representatives.

“In building a just and progressive Nigeria, it is impossible to overstate the importance of promoting women’s welfare and upholding the spirit of our constitution,” Abbas said.

“Nigeria’s history is replete with courageous women whose remarkable contributions have shaped the country’s trajectory.

“The pioneering women of our past, who broke barriers with steadfast resolve, laid the foundation for the progress we witness today.

“Their legacies urge us to continue the vital work of forging an inclusive, just, and prosperous nation, one grounded in constitutional ideals of equality and social welfare.

“Their stories remind us that we must not only dream of a better future but also act decisively to create it, ensuring that every Nigerian woman can thrive.

“In our present global and domestic context, investing in Nigerian women is not a luxury but a strategic imperative. Empowerment drives economic growth, fortifies food security, and strengthens the core of our communities.

“Our response to these challenges must be bold and pragmatic. Under section 17 of the constitution, which guarantees equality of rights and opportunities, the 10th house of representatives has introduced a legislative agenda that prioritises women’s political participation and economic empowerment.

“As part of these commitments, the house has created two committees specifically dedicated to women’s issues and ensured the inclusion of all female members of the house in the constitution amendment committee.

“Additionally, only yesterday, I formally requested our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to include all its female members in the party’s national executive committee (NEC), resulting in four women now holding NEC positions.

“Such measures are vital to guaranteeing that women’s perspectives actively inform the legislative framework and policy directions guiding our national development.

“Within this agenda, we also advocate for legislative reforms that reintroduce special seats for women in our legislative houses and mandate quotas within political parties, thereby securing meaningful representation for women in public office.”

Abbas also asked state houses of assemblies to endorse the proposals when they are transmitted to them as part of the constitutional amendment process.

He called for the expansion of “targeted funding programmes” to empower female entrepreneurs to drive innovation and generate employment opportunities.

He said the expansion will include implementing robust microfinance schemes tailored specifically to the needs of Nigerian women, complemented by government-led training, mentorship, and capital access initiatives for women-owned enterprises.

The speaker said learning from global best practices and adapting them to the Nigerian context will allow us to unlock women’s immense potential, cultivating economic growth that benefits us all.

He said the house is “firmly committed” to securing justice and equity for Nigerian women.

He added that the green chamber will exercise “diligent oversight of government institutions to ensure adherence to the national gender policy, bolster the women’s caucus to champion gender-specific issues effectively, and support electoral reforms that ensure a fixed quota of female candidates while providing special seats for women in both chambers of the national assembly”.

“We will also enact robust legislation to safeguard women in politics from violence and intimidation, thereby aligning our political framework with the constitution’s principles of fairness and freedom,” the speaker said.

“When we invest in our women, we invest in our farms, our markets, and in every child’s future. We have seen Rwanda set a powerful precedent by using gender quotas to propel more women into positions of power, yielding progressive legislation and community transformation.”

Kafilat Ogbara, chairperson of the house committee on women’s affairs and social development, said the conference was organised to advance the cause of women’s leadership and empowerment in the country.

“We cannot continue to talk without action, so what we are gathered here to do today is what I call action in progress,” she said.

Ogbara added that the conference was aimed at redefining the narrative surrounding women in leadership, breaking barriers, and creating pathways for future generations.