In order to foster gender-sensitive constitutional alteration bills, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs has asserted the imperative of support from me folks her drive to ensure that additional special seats in the National Assembly, Dame Pauline Tallen, OFR, KSG has again led her Ministry with the support of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) engaged high level influencers for the passage of gender-sensitive constitution alteration bills, through the Nigerian Men’s Conference on Gender Sensitive Constitution Reform held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, 14th September, 2021.
While delivering her welcome remarks at the occasion, Tallen stated that Nigerian women take solace in the knowledge that many male allies lead institutions that are directly responsible for passing or influencing the gender-sensitive Constitution alterations that is currently being promoted.
“I am making particular reference to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari; Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan, the President of the Nigerian Senate; Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives; His Excellency, Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Chair of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Rt. Honourable Abubakar Suleiman, the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of States’ Legislatures in Nigeria”; the Honourable Minister concluded by saying: “Nigerian women are counting on you”, as a way of extracting commitments from the male influencers.
The honourable minister further reiterated that amendment of Constitutions of countries around the world is often a cumbersome process.She said;
” Nigeria’s case is more cumbersome owing to the fact that proposed amendments to the Constitution of Nigeria can only become law when passed by two-thirds majority of the Senate and the House of Assembly with a simple majority in at least 24 out of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly and the assent of the President”.
The Honourable Minister submitted that increasing the participation of women in elected office in Nigeria, is an imperative.She said only eight (8) women out of the 109 legislators are presently in the Senate; and only 13 out of 360 legislators are in the House of Representatives.
“The situation is more challenging in the States’ Houses of Assembly, where there are only 40 women among the 991 elected legislators. Women do not only constitute about 50 percent of Nigeria’s population, we contribute significantly to the country’s political and socio-economic development, when given the opportunity.”
She went further to reveal that
“His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari puts this in better perspective during his meeting with the Supporting of Advancement of Gender Equality (SAGE) national and international working groups on March 19, 2021: “Women are a credible force in strengthening our democracy and promoting the culture of peace and food security. I am most grateful for the role women have played and continue to play in our Government. Their contributions are valuable in sustaining our socio-economic fabric from the corridors of decision-making to our rural communities. This administration places a high premium on promoting their inclusiveness in National Development as we have demonstrated with those holding key portfolios in this administration”. She said she could not agree less with Mr. President.
While welcoming all development partners such as USAID, NDI, Tallen reminded participants of the objective of the conference to include securing new commitments from high-level influencers for the passage of gender-sensitive Constitution alteration bills.
While delivering his goodwill message, the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of States’ Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman remarked that “The Conference of Speakers of States’ Legislatures of Nigeria adds its voice to the noble cause of creating special seats for women in Federal and State Legislative Houses.Furthermore, as law makers, we believe that the effective way to accomplish this noble objective is through the alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And to that effect, we acknowledge the commitment of the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives for initiating a Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to create Additional Special Seats for women in Federal and State Legislative Houses and for Related Matters…if the Bill is passed by the National Assembly and its resolution transmitted to the States’ Houses of Assembly; I want to assure you that the Conference of Speakers shall sensitize our colleagues at the State level on the importance of this Bill; and consequently I am confident that we shall record more than the required two-third ratification in favour of the proposed amendment.”The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, PhD in his goodwill message remarked that the agitation for more women in politics is a long standing one, which needs continuous consideration to achieve success and reap its benefits. He thanked the Ministry of Women Affairs, the NDI and USAID for their zeal at organizing the event.Giving her remarks at the occasion, the U.S Charge d’ Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon quoted Vice President Kamala Harris at the 65th session of the UN Commission on status of women in March: “Democracy is a means to establish peace and shared prosperity. It should ensure every citizen, regardless of gender, has an equal voice. At the same time, [it] requires constant vigilance, constant improvement. It is work-in-progress.”FitzGibbon stated further that the US understands the importance of women’s representation and structural challenges being experienced globally citing that 20 years ago, women representation was just 11% of seats at the US Congress. “In the US today, women now constitute 27 percent of the members of Congress.” She stated the importance of legislation as a vital means of changing situations of which she was a beneficiary in the US.While commending male leaders present at the conference who are advocates for reforms and champions of female leaders’ expected inclusion in politics and decision making, she gave examples of men such as her father, uncles and brothers as mentors who helped her achieve her dream of being a diplomat.
She stated the commitment of the US to openly tackle challenges Nigeria women face in politics.The Emir of Keffi, HRH, Alhaji Dr. Shehu Usman Chindo Yamusa advised fellow royal fathers and males to see the agitation for more women inclusiveness in politics as a responsibility of all.He asked that all road blocks and marginalization of women in democratic activities be stopped.Dignitaries such as Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha who represented the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Her Excellency, Atifete Jahjaga, the former President, Republic of Kosovo; the Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani (GCON); amongst other dignitaries gave their commitment to the cause.