Oyo Assembly female lawmakers query Ajimobi’s council caretakers’ list

Say it is gender-biased
Female members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have criticised Governor Abiola Ajimobi for nominating 57 men as caretaker chairmen for 28 local councils and 29 local council development areas without a woman.

The female lawmakers, who described the list presented to the Assembly by the governor on Tuesday for approval as “gender-biased”, advised him to be gender sensitive in his future political appointments.

In their separate reactions to the report of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North) and her Finance and Appropriation counterpart, Bolanle Agbaje (Ibadan North 1), described the list that does not have a single woman as “gender- biased” and an attempt to silence the women folk.

Oladeji, who frowned at the list as being targeted at “discriminating against women,” wondered why the governor deliberately closed his eyes to the Beijing Conference of China in 1995 and the 35 per cent affirmative action which reserves at least 35 per cent slots for women in any elective or non-elective positions in Nigeria.

Agbaje, who summoned courage to draw the attention of her colleagues, said it was wrong that no single woman was nominated to head the council areas.

The Speaker, Michael Adeyemo, while responding, said: “Your submission is noted, the committee has noted it. We have already noted the observation and it is part of our recommendations.