ActionAid seeks gender-balanced ministerial appointment

Group flays Ninth N’Assembly over exclusion of women in leadership positions
The ActionAid Nigeria has called for inclusive representation of women and persons living with disabilities in the composition of the soon-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to it, government is being unfair to women and children who make up about 50 per cent of the nation’s population.

Its Country Director, Ene Obi, who spoke with journalists on the state of the nation during the General Assembly at the weekend in Abuja, said: “We want inclusivity, we want more women to be on board.

Also, the Board Chairperson, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs. Jumai Umar Ajijola, who pointed out they are looking forward to seeing the right persons in the cabinet, stressed the need for involvement of more women in politics, leadership empowerment and broadening of electoral participation through grassroots involvement of local communities.

Meanwhile, the Convener of the AAN General Assembly, Mr. David Nwachukwu, has expressed concern that 24 per cent of Nigerians are unemployed, advising the government to engage the unemployed youths in ICT driven anti-crime initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s security deficit.

He said that the youths could be involved through the application of cutting edge ICT driven anti-crime initiatives, noting that the Nigerian police can also look inward through community policing.

ActionAid, while lamenting the spate of insecurity and volatile environment in different parts of the country, said that it would be difficult for meaningful development if security issues are not properly dealt with.

In a related vein, a women-anchored non-governmental organisation, Strategic Women In Leadership Initiative (SWILI), has faulted the recent election of leaders of Ninth National Assembly for the inability of the two chambers to give female opportunity to occupy any apex leadership position.

Founder/President of the group, Mrs. Emem Akpan, who stated this at the weekend while briefing journalists in Owerri, Imo State capital, expressed disgust over the issue, urging that women should be allowed and given reasonable opportunities to deepen democracy in Nigeria by occupying leadership seats in governance of the country at all levels and tiers of government.

She said the body would continue with the vision and mission of advancing the place of women in the six geo-political zones of the nation in the mainstream of things irrespective of political party leaning.