The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has called for constitutional amendments to allow for gender equity in political representation.
Sen. Tinubu applauded the House of Representatives for initiating and passing, for second reading, a bill seeking 70 out of the 360 legislative seats for women.
During her speech at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association’s spotlight initiative at the alternate Chamber of the Senate, National Assembly, Abuja, she emphasized the critical need to address and overcome the persistent gender disparities in our political systems.
She said: “To fully achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk.
“While quotas and education are essential, enforcement of these measures is equally critical. Governments must put in place robust mechanisms to ensure compliance with gender quotas.
“This includes legal frameworks and monitoring systems that hold political parties accountable. Constitutional amendments may also be necessary to enshrine gender equity in political representation.
“Such amendments would provide a solid legal foundation for women’s adequate representation, ensuring that gender equity is not just a policy preference but a constitutional mandate.
“The journey towards achieving 30% women’s representation in our parliament is achievable once we take the bold step to kick-start the journey to an enduring democracy of quality representation.
“I commend the Federal House of Representatives for passing the bill seeking to reserve 74 seats for women in the National Assembly in a bid to encourage more female participation in politics and governance.”
“I believe that the leadership in the Senate is gender-friendly, and I urge the 10th National Assembly to give women the necessary support.”
The first lady said Nigerian women are smart and intelligent and can work alongside our male counterparts without friction for the good and development of the country.
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