The House of Representatives has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the United Nations Women on the need to increase the number of women in governance.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said on Thursday in Abuja that the partnership is to amplify the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and the Bill on Women’s Parliamentary Seats.
Represented by his Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Abbas said that the advocacy partnership will serve as a tool to lobby other stakeholders, especially the constituents, for women’s inclusivity.
“So the advocacy should not only be within the people’s parliament alone, it should go beyond here to the rural areas for the constituents to know why we want to go this way.
“Let them see the comparative analysis between our country and other countries, let them see what we are missing by not going this route all this while and let them see what we are going to gain if we go this route,” he said.
He stressed the need to build the capacity of women and sensitise women to support female aspirants.
He also said that women should be encouraged to bring their best in contributing to national development and not compete with men or be seen as antagonistic to men.
Earlier, the UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, said that Nigerians are looking up to the National Assembly to address the problem of women’s underrepresentation.
She said that about 4 percent of women are elected to the National Assembly and that only seven women serve in the 45-member federal cabinet.
She said that Nigeria needs to do better in the continent regarding women’s representation in governance.
“This is the challenge we must all work together to surmount. You have demonstrated leadership, dedication and passion on this journey.
“UN Women is committed to walking this journey and building a strong and sustainable partnership with your office and with the membership of the National Assembly,” she said.
Reps, United Nations sign MoU on women’s inclusion in governance