By
Gloria Abutu
Women in Adamawa state have called for inclusion in governance to drive socioeconomic development of the country.
They made the call while speaking to Fombina News in Yola.
According to statistics by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, the representation of women in elective and appointive positions in Nigeria is about 4.8 percent.
Despite making up almost half of Nigeria’s population, and constituting about half of the electorate, women are poorly represented in decision making positions.
Madam Rebecca Kwabe is the first vice president of the National Council of Women’s Societies, NCWS in Adamawa state.
According to her, women are great assets whose involvement in any area of life is capable of driving positive change in the society.
She appealed for the recommended 35 percent Affirmative Action to address exclusion of women in governance.
She said, “We are asking for 35 percent Affirmative Action. In the National Assembly, the number of women have drastically reduced, and this is because the men are not appreciating our efforts, but we are still asking them because we are their mothers and sisters, so they should give us a chance to be able to participate.”
She urged governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to include women in his administration, pointing out that women were in the fore front in ensuring his reelection into office.
A civil servant, Theresa Kuffon while noting that women always stand out in any given assignment, locally and globally, advocated the consideration of women for appointive positions in the present government for economic prosperity.
According to her, “I believe that this new administration will integrate women into the government.”
Mrs. Kuffon who envisaged a better future for Nigerian women, urged them to continue to work hard in their different fields of endeavor until their efforts are recognized.
“This is a call on every woman to wake up from their slumber and key into this new government so that we can take our own share of what is deserving for us”, she added.
Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in Adamawa state, Rose Anthony Elishama noted that women are more dependable, transparent and trustworthy partners without whom no society can experience meaningful progress.
“This time around, we hope that there will be more inclusion of women in the system, because wherever you put a woman, you find out that there is transformation”, she noted.
She therefore solicited the inclusion of women in affairs of government at both state and national levels for peace and development of Nigeria.
It remains to be seen if the present administration will respect the National Gender Policy formulated since 2006, to promote 35 percent Affirmative Action for women.
The policy demands 35 percent involvement of women in all governance processes in the country.
