A Civil Society Organisation, Dinidari Foundation has called on political parties to create room for the 35% affirmative action in order to increase women representation in politics.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Miss Ndi Kato, said that that everyone has to be on the table to see that there is a balance on policies that come out in the action plan, saying that the women are running more but not on the same pace with men.
She stated this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.
According to Kato, the organization is concerned in pushing for a Bill that will ensure that political parties field 35 % female candidates.
“There are also a lot of women groups involved in the 35% affirmative action but we are targeting the angle of political parties which will make the Bill easier and achievable for us. For instance, PDP has a manifesto of 35% affirmative participation of women which isn’t fully practiced and you know INEC can’t enforce it on PDP because it isn’t implemented in the constitution but if we succeed, you can ensure that these things will be put in place.
“And another issue is that of violent fight for equality amongst women. Most times where we talk of women participation, you hardly find those from the grassroots but rather seen as mobilisers. Forgetting that women are good when it comes to organising things. For instance they are good in doing courtesy calls but they don’t gather for what is really theirs. We need to get to that point where our gathering will begin to make,” she stressed.
Continuing, she said: “Apart from the Bill there is also what we want to push for ‘women dey vote’. This entails women voting and demanding for what is theirs in the society. They deserve to get what they need in return for that is gender-inclusive delivery of government services.
“They lack the knowledge of calling forth their leaders whom they have voted in and place their demand of that which they have been promised as a community,” she said.
Speaking, the Gender Mobiliser Dinidari Foundation Miss Chikas Kumle lauded journalists for their priceless effort to reach out to the world, by sharpening their minds.
