The Chairperson Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe has canvassed an improvement in the inclusiveness of women in the governance of the country.

Speaking during the strategic sensitization workshop for senior officers of security agencies and relevant committees of the National Assembly held at National Defence College, Abuja , she argued that the call was in tandem with international best practices.

The lawmaker representing the federal capital territory (FCT) on the platform of the opposition labour party (LP), she observed that Nigeria is still lagging far behind in the comity of nations as far of the issue of women inclusiveness in governance is concerned.

She cited Somalia with 20 and 14 percent representation in its lower and upper legislative Houses as against the 4 percent level of women representation in both the two arms of the National Assembly to buttress her assertion.

She said it is baffling that as as important as women are in the personal lives and wellbeing of men, they have been relegated to the background when it comes to the protection of their rights in the country.

“I always said that when we increase women inclusiveness in everything, Nigeria would get it right in many ways politically, economically, securitywise and everywhere. Now we say we are the giant of Africa and we need to start thinking like the giant that we are in everything,” she noted.

“As long as we do not legislate on a lot of things that involves women, we will not make the right progress. Legislating women participation in public life and governance and leadership is the way to proceed.”

At the event jointly organised by the national institute of legislative and democratic studies (NILDS), she noted that women are the most affected anywhere there are security challenges in the country.

Stating the need for community policing initiative, open dialogue between law enforcement and the community and active involvement of women and marginalized groups in the polity, she stressed the need to set aside not less than 25 percent allocation to women in recruitment exercises into security agencies in the country.

She added: “The military can do better than they have been doing in the past. I know we are all trying to do better. That’s why we are here. We have to promote diversity and inclusivity within the security forces, encourage the recruitment of more women, promote their professional development and leadership within the security forces.”