Over the years, the low representation of women in political positions has negatively impacted women’s development and empowerment in Nigeria. The underrepresentation of women at all levels of government has not only contributed to the formulation of policies that are discriminatory against women but has also prevented the voices of women from being heard in decision-making processes. In a bid to ensure that gender equity is promoted, women’s groups and civil society organisations have continued to demand fair representation of women in political positions in line with the 35% affirmative action stipulated by the National Gender Policy of 2006, which allows more women to occupy elective and appointive positions in the country.

Though the 35% affirmative action seems not to be followed due to the decline in the number of women in elective and appointive positions, some state governors have intensified efforts to ensure that women’s voices are heard by including more women in their cabinets.
In July 2023, the executive governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq sent a list of 18 commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation. The list had nine women and nine men. The 50% representation of women in Governor Abdulrazaq’s new cabinet reflects the Gender Inclusion Bill he assented to in 2021 to have at least 35 percent women appointees in the executive council and other classes of political appointments in Kwara State. The need to bridge the marginalisation of women is not new to the purposeful Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as evidenced in 2020 when he appointed 56% women in the state cabinet in his first tenure as the governor of Kwara State. Governor Abdulrazaq has continued to change the narrative of inclusion in his belief in the capacity of women as nation builders alongside their male counterparts. The governor understands that democracy is representative when women govern and work side by side with men. History will not forget the trailblazer of women’s inclusion in Nigerian politics for being the first Nigerian governor with the highest number of female cabinet members and political appointees. Governor Abdulrazaq has not only laid down an example worthy of emulation but has gone ahead to demonstrate the significance of women’s contributions to national development.

Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State is also worthy of mention for his commitment to women’s inclusion by having 30 percent of women and youths in his 39-member cabinet, making it the highest in the history of Lagos State. Kaduna State under Governor El Rufai had 52.94% females in his cabinet. Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had 35% women in his cabinet. When Nyesom Wike was governor of Rivers State he made sure that the positions of deputy chair of all local governments are occupied by women only. This is the case in Kogi State by Governor Yahaya Bello. These are men who understand that women contribute immensely to the economic growth and stability of any community; that involving and collaborating with women is for the benefit of Nigeria and that there cannot be true democracy when women are left behind.

Blessing Agbeetan
Women Radio 91.7

news@wfm917.com