Group partners legislators to make 35% affirmative action mandatory

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Dinidari Foundation is working with some legislators to ensure passage of law to make it mandatory for all registered political parties to enshrine the 35 per cent affirmative action in their respective constitutions.

Executive Director of the foundation, Ms Ndi Kato, who disclosed this at a press conference jointly addressed with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, decried low women representation in the political sphere, adding that the Bill if passed into law, will ensure increased participation of women in politics.

She said: “It is easier to push for the 35 per cent affirmative action through political parties. If all political parties have 35 per cent affirmative action, there will be proper representative, balanced policies on issues that concern women and girls.

Also speaking, Gender Mobilise, Dinidari Foundation, Chukas Kumle observed that it is very difficult for women to become candidates for elections, adding that the idea is to have more women in political party structures in order to reverse the trend.