By NAN
Evolving Women In Politics (EWIP), A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called on the Federal Government for adequate participation of women in politics to ensure gender equality, sustainability and for the development democracy in the country.
Chief Mrs Hadizat Kolo, the Coordinator of the group, made the call on Tuesday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in commemoration of the International Women’s Day Celebration.
NAN reports that the United Nations theme for 2022 International Women’s Day celebration is titled #Break The Bias#.
Kolo said women contributed greater percentage of the voting population in Nigeria, hence the need for government and stakeholders to involve them in decision-making bodies was paramount.
She also called on the federal lawmakers to reconsider all the gender bills that were rejected during the Constitution amendment last week.
The lawmakers, she said, voted to deny women 35 per cent affirmative action in party administration and leadership as well as specific seats for women in the National Assembly.
According to her, women and girls should have a major role to play in governance, to restore their pride and dignity and encourage societal norms and values for nation building and development.
“Women account for a substantial proportion of the agricultural labour force and perform the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work within families and households in rural areas.
“They make significant contributions to agricultural production, food security and nutrition, land and natural resource management and building climate resilience.
“The impacts of climate change, including access to productive and natural resources, amplify existing gender inequalities in rural areas,” she said.
The Coordinator maintained that, the Beijing declaration that proposes 35 per cent participation of women in politics has not been achieved, adding that there was need for equal participation of women in decision making worldwide.
She said EWIP is an organisation that seeks to mitigate violence against women during elections and encourage participation of women in politics in the country.
However, she called on women in the country to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and take advantage of their numerical strength, education and global democratic trend to find a space in politics. (NAN)