Group seeks 35% political appointments for women in Ekiti

As the process for selection of political appointees begins in Ekiti State, the Executive Director, Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, has urged Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to abide by the 35 per cent affirmative action in appointment of women into offices.

Adedeji hailed the composition by the governor of a committee on political appointments, describing it as the “single largest and right opportunity to achieve a minimum of 35 per cent of political appointments for women in Ekiti State.”

The BIGIF ED, in a statement titled, “Request for 35 per cent affirmative action in political appointments in Ekiti” made available in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, hailed Oyebanji for not having relented in the pursuit of his promises particularly by enlisting qualified women into the service of the state through appointments.

She said, “In line with our mandate to promote women’s rights, we are calling on this distinguished committee on political appointments to prioritise and facilitate the reservation of a minimum of 35 per cent of political appointments in Ekiti State for women as the governor has charged during the committee’s maiden meeting.

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“This is in consonance with the governor’s electioneering and inauguration promises and to further implement existing legal frameworks for gender equality. 

“By this, Ekiti State will further set an unprecedented feat, far ahead of other sub-national governments after recording another first in women’s political representation at the House of Assembly election of March 18, 2023, where Ekiti emerged with the highest number of female elected lawmakers in Nigeria.”

As part of efforts to achieve 35 per cent affirmative action in women’s appointment, Adedeji said that BIGIF, through the ‘Stop Violence against Women in Politics’ Campaign, “secured the commitment of all candidates for the 2022 Ekiti governorship election to fully implement the Ekiti Women Agenda when elected.

“Mr Governor, who was the then candidate of the ruling party subscribed to the Agenda and committed to its implementation. In August 2022, BIGIF presented the Agenda to the transition committee on the invitation and the Governor in his inaugural speech clearly committed to women’s empowerment, gender equality and inclusive governance.”

Adedeji said EWA comprised Ekiti women’s priority issues which included the implementation of 35 per cent Affirmative Action.

She said the campaign was held with the support of USAID and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office through the National Democratic Institute “to address the problem of violence against women, which deters active and full participation of women in politics, especially during the elections.”