Commissioners list: Women group protests non-inclusion of enough Ogun women

 The Coalition of More Women in Governance in Ogun, Monday, staged a protest at the Ogun state House of Assembly demanding the inclusion of more women in Governor Dapo Abiodun’s cabinet.

The 18-man commissioner-nominees list, which was forwarded to the assembly last Thursday, has generated some controversies across the state.

The group’s spokesperson, Dr Abiola Akinyode, said women in the state were disappointed with the number of women in the list submitted to the assembly by Gov Abiodun, and demanded that the number be upped.

Akinyode said that the group would not accept the list, saying that there should be at least 35 per cent of women on the list.

She recalled that the assembly had passed a resolution sometime in October calling on the state government to give women 35 per cent affirmative in governance.

“On 35 per cent or more we stand. That is why we are here. Governance must have people’s face and it must be inclusive.

“Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) talks about gender equality and we want the governor to do the needful,”she said.

Responding, the Speaker Mr Olakunle Oluomo, who was represented by Mr Oludaisi Elemide, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, commended the group for the peaceful protest.

He noted that the assembly actually passed a resolution on 35 per cent affirmative for women in governance.

He added that the resolution was an advice to the executive and not a law, saying that the message of the group would be conveyed to the governor as soon as possible.

“I want to tell you that not only commissioners make the cabinet, we have Advisers and we also have consultants and we have more women in this regard,” he said.

Oluomo said the Assembly would do the needful as regards their demands.

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