General News
A group, Women Political Participation Technical Working Group (WPP-TWG), has called for additional special legislative seats for women in the Federal and States legislative houses.
The group’s call is part of the memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in Jos.
Mrs Jiritmwa Goyit, Leader of the group, while briefing newsmen on Thursday, noted that an extra Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats be created for women in the 36 states and Abuja.
“In the State Houses of Assembly, one seat in each of the three senatorial districts in the state should be reserved for women.
“To achieve this, we move that Sections 48 and 49 of the Principal Act be altered by substituting the existing sections with new ones,” Goyit said.
According to her, the WPP-TWG is canvassing gender-neutral and sensitive languages in the constitution.
She stated that masculine languages were gender-biased and undermined women and girls’ political participation, which further hindered inclusive governance in Nigeria.
“Ensure equitable women representation in government through at least 35 percent women representation in appointive offices at the federal and state levels.
“This will begin with an amendment of Section 14 subsection (3) that prohibits predominance of persons from a few states, ethnic or sectional groups in the composition of the government and its agencies.
“To also introduce a prohibition of the predominance of any sex in the composition of the government and its agencies.
“Also, to introduce in Section 14 (4) the equitable representation of both sexes in the composition of government at a state, local government councils, or any of its agencies.
“Include gender as a benchmark for the federal character,” the group leader said. (NAN)
– May 27, 2021 @ 16:05 GMT
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