First Lady praises House of Reps’ bill for allocating 74 seats to women

By Kunle Sanni

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has hailed the Federal House of Representatives’ passage of a bill to allocate 74 seats for women in the National Assembly.

Speaking during a forum of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, she highlighted significant strides in gender parity under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, acknowledging ongoing cultural and social barriers.

At the event themed “Re-thinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance”, Senator Tinubu emphasized the importance of the legislative move to promote greater female participation in politics, while expressing confidence in the Senate’s gender-friendly leadership.

Senator Tinubu also lauded the All Progressives Congress (APC) for eliminating financial barriers at the grassroots level by making nomination forms for elective positions free. This initiative, she noted, enables capable and qualified women to participate in politics without the burden of prohibitive costs.

The First Lady addressed the broader context of challenges to gender parity, including deeply entrenched societal norms, systemic discriminatory practices, structural issues within political systems, and financial incapability.

Emphasizing education as the cornerstone of empowerment, she advocated for improved access to education for girls and women, equipping them with the necessary skills for effective political participation.

She also called for public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs to shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes hindering women’s political involvement.

Rt Hon Hadija Memounatou Ibrahimah, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and the first female to hold the position, urged the First Lady to champion better representation for women in governance across the region.

“Women account for half of the population of ECOWAS member states. Only 17% are Parliamentarians and 24% are Ministers in the region. It is high time to reduce the under-representation of women in democracy,” Ibrahimah stated.

Representing the Senate President, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau reiterated the Senate’s commitment to prioritizing women’s participation in governance. “We will redefine the power of women in governance,” he declared.

Following the session, Senator Tinubu visited the newly renovated Red Chamber, commending its leadership.

The First Lady, a three-term Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District until 2023, reflected on her legislative tenure and the significance of the chamber’s refurbishment.