Female politicians fault Buhari’s ministerial list of seven women

 

The low representation of women in political office in Nigeria is set to continue with the next set of ministers.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sent his ministerial nominees to the Senate.

Only seven women made the list of 43, about 16 percent. This was no different from the six women out of 42 nominees appointed by President Buhari in 2015.

The new women nominees are Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), a former finance minister; Paulen Talen (Plateau) a former deputy governor; Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra), the Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); and Maryam Katagun (Bauchi), Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

Others are Ramatu Tijjani (Kogi), former All Progressives Congress (APC) women national leader; Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), former federal lawmaker; and Sadiya Umar Faruk (Zamfara), the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI).

Some advocates of women in politics described the development as a new height of misrepresentation when compared with the 49.4 percent of Nigeria’s population formed by women.

“Women have once again been marginalized”, said Mercy Ayodele, a former governorship candidate in Osun State.

“The highest people that vote are women. But when it comes to sharing positions, we take the back seat. We suggested a minimum of 15 women on that list.”

Source – premiumtimesng.com