9th NASS: NCWS wants more women as principal officers

The National Council of Women Societies, (NCWS) Tuesday called on the ninth National Assembly to appoint more women as principal officers and head of committees.

The president of NCWS, Mrs Gloria Shoda, made the called in a statement in Abuja. She said women who won seats in the national and states should be given opportunity to serve in various committees as leaders.

She said, “I am appealing to the ninth National Assembly to ensure that women who won seats in the National Assembly, are appointed principal officers and heads of committees.

“We also appeal to the states assembly to do a similar process.

“This will go a long way to encourage women to put in their best in the service of their father land.

“In the outgoing National Assembly, only one woman was made a principal officer- Senator Biodun Olujimi. She was  Deputy Minority Whip, and later became Senate Minority Leader.

“In the Seventh National Assembly, in 2011, Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande, was appointed as the Majority Leader.

“So we are agitating that even though we still have a handful of women in both legislative chambers, they should not be relegated to the background in our democratic institutions,’’ she said.

Shoda said in the current race for leadership positions in the 9th assembly, two names, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha have been put forward for Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively.

She said very few women have made it as speakers of the house and other leadership positions in the state assembly.

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