Nasarawa Women Push for 35% Affirmative Action in Upcoming Local Government Elections

Women in Nasarawa State are advocating for the implementation of a 35% affirmative action policy in the forthcoming local government elections.

This call to action is led by Mrs. Alice Alumbugu, a prominent advocate in the All Progressives Congress (APC), who emphasized the need for inclusiveness in the political landscape.

Mrs. Alumbugu, who is running for the Chairmanship position of Lafia Local Government Council, applauded the ongoing reconciliation process for Chairmanship and Councillorship positions, spearheaded by the state leadership of the party.

However, she expressed dissatisfaction regarding the inadequate inclusion of women contestants in the decision-making processes.

Governor Abdullahi Sule and the APC leadership were urged to ensure women’s integral participation in the political journey, highlighting their essential contributions to the state’s socio-economic development.

In response, Nasarawa State Chairman of the APC, Aliyu Bello, acknowledged the party’s efforts to include women in key political positions, particularly in Councillorship roles.

Bello encouraged women to engage actively in partisan politics to have a substantial voice in the state’s political landscape.

When questioned about the party’s readiness to implement the 35% affirmative action for women, Chairman Bello clarified that while total inclusivity may not be achievable, a reasonable number of positions would be allocated to women.

This push for affirmative action is not new to Nigeria. The National Gender Policy has advocated for a 35% affirmative action for women since 2006, aiming to eliminate gender discriminations and ensure equality.

However, despite this policy, women remain underrepresented in governance, with only nine female senators out of 109 and 27 female representatives out of 360 in the House of Representatives.

Successful implementation of affirmative action policies in countries like Rwanda and Senegal has shown significant increases in women’s representation in government.

Nasarawa State’s women are hoping to follow suit, promoting a more inclusive and representative government.