Group demands law reserving 35% elective positions for women

A group known as the League of Women Voters of Nigeria says a law should be enacted by the national assembly that will reserve 35 percent of the country’s elective positions for women.

Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Esther Uduehi, founder of group, said Nigeria has one of the lowest number of women in parliament compared to other countries.

Uduehi said although the country is a signatory to a UN agreement calling for 35 percent affirmative action for women in governance, Nigeria’s performance is worse on the continent in terms of implementation.

The founder also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to collaborate with political parties to ensure that women are seen to be participating in governance.

“We believe that the executive must work with the legislature to ensure that the 35 percent affirmative action is not only on paper but is put into action,” she said.

“We are appealing to members of the national assembly especially the incoming ones to craft and pass a law to this effect, that a law that makes it mandatory for a number of seats in each state to be reserved in rotation for women in addition to the seats they‘ can struggle for and win by themselves.

“A bird’s eye view of the percentages of female performance in parliament in some African countries shows that while, Rwanda 61.3 percent, Senegal 42.7 percent, South Africa 42.1 per cent, Namibia 41.3 percent, Mozambique 39.6 per cent, Ethiopia -38.8 per cent, Angola 38.2 per cent, our country Nigeria boasts of 5.90 percent.

“We believe that INEC also has a big role to play in this regard and working with the political parties, they should be able to produce a robust guideline in line with such a law that should guarantee this access and right for the women.”

Uduehi urged women to use their huge voting numbers to their advantage.

“Going forward we are going to reshape, reorganise and restrategise for the future,” she said.