ADVOCATES NON-DISCRIMINATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS
By Vincess Okushi
A group of civil society organizations has charged President Tinubu to construct an executive constitutional alteration on affirmative action as part of his restructuring policy to address the underrepresented groups in Nigeria.
They said year in women, youths, and persons with disabilities are continually marginalized despite the 35 percent affirmative action on gender representation in decision-making.
At a Global Rights’ Intergenerational Fireside Dialogue titled “Navigating the Civic Space and Advancing Inclusivity with Nigeria’s New Administration” a panelist and development consultant, Jide Ojo said the constitutional alteration will clearly define the rights of women and persons with disabilities in governance, adding that adequate preparation ahead of 2027 will enhance the country’s law for inclusive governance.
In the recently concluded 2023 general election, the Red Chamber of the 10th National Assembly had only three females elected out of the 109 seats, while the Green Chamber had sixteen women out of the 360 lawmakers.
However, going by this number of women representation, it would have been proper for President Tinubu to fulfill his campaign promise of 25 percent appointment of the female folks to balance the 35 percent affirmative action, but rather choose to appoint only seven in his cabinet.
Informed of this Fireside series seeking to address the shrinking civic space of Nigerian women and youths to engender participatory governance that captures the excluded groups in the current administration.
In his view, the Development consultant Jide Ojo urged the government to emulate the standardized form of political appointees for best practice.
Also, Global Rights Program Manager Edosa Oviawe submitted that involving more women in crucial decision processes will help to address the nation’s economic challenges.
And called for a revoke of the 35 percent affirmative action which is also discriminatory for Women to have a balanced gender representation.
On their part, a development expert, Neyinmi Eribo, and the Head of Office, Heinrich Boil Foundation, Nigeria, Jochen Luckscheiter said they are open to dialogue with the government to ensure that women and persons with disabilities are employed in decision-making to surmount the economic hardship for democratic equity and fairness
These experts implore the underrepresented groups to institute a female political party just as it’s done in the youth party to draw them closer to politics to end all forms of marginalization in the country.
