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By Henry Uche
A civil society organisation, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund has condemned the zoning arrangement for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly endorsed by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), which it noted excludes female members-elect from the top leadership positions.
In a statement by its CEO, Mufuliat Fijabi, the group said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reneged from his campaign promise to give priority to women and youths.
“The zoning arrangement is a clear disregard to the capabilities of the Nigerian women who have fought the hurdles to clinch the seats at both lower and upper chambers with requisite knowledge in the operations of the National Assembly, even as ranking members.
“It is disturbing that the President who had promised Nigerians significant inclusion of women and youth is also supporting a zoning arrangement that completely excludes women from becoming principal officers of the 10th National Assembly ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13.”
Fijabi, in the statement, also lamented that the decision of the President and his party was not in tandem with their proclaimed Renewed Hope Agenda, saying that the hope of Nigerian women had been dashed by the act.
“Last month, APC zoned the position of the President of the Senate in the 10th Assembly to the South-South with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the preferred candidate and Senator Jubrin Barau from North-west, as preferred candidate for deputy Senate President position. Also, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu were chosen as preferred candidates for the offices of speaker and deputy respectively in the next House of Representatives.
“This also contradicts the court Judgment of 6 April, 2022 by the Federal High Court Abuja, mandating the government to implement a minimum of 35 per cent Affirmative Action in all positions,” the statement read.
