The House of Representatives and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies are advocating a law that will mandate political parties to field more women as candidates in elections.
This was the thrust of a roundtable on inclusive governance in Abuja.
Twenty four years since the return to democratic governance in Nigeria, there are still growing concerns over low representation of women in appointive and elective offices.
The last general election is a case in point.
In the National Assembly, only 20 out of the 469 members are women.
To reverse the trend in future elections, NILDS is partnering with like minded organisations to channel ways of having more women and Persons with disabilities in governance.
This is coming weeks after a similar conference, and the organisers are optimistic that with sustained advocacy, the low performance of women who incidentally constitute a large chunk of the voting population, will improve
On her part, a first time member of the House of Representatives, after several attempts, underscores the need for Inclusivity of both genders in governance.
At the Senate, 4 out of the 109 legislators, are females.
Kafilat is one of the 16 females in the 10th House of 360 members.
She says political parties should be compelled to field more women as candidates to shore up their inclusion
To achieve the implementation of the Act establishing it, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities says it plans to seal off buildings lacking access facilities for PWDs effective January 16th.
Its Executive Secretary seeks inclusion for the over 35 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria
The roundtable calls for the development of a feasible, realistic gender policy that will truly and genuinely acheive women inclusion in governance in the overall interest of the nation.
