Evolving Women In Politics (EWIP), an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to put in place machineries that would ensure participation of more women in politics.
EWIP’s coordinator, Mrs Hadizat Kolo, who made the call on Tuesday, in an interview in Lagos said this was to ensure gender equality, sustainability and development of democracy in the country.
Kolo was speaking in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.
The United Nations theme for the 2022 IWD celebration is; #Break The Bias#.
She noted that women constituted the greater percentage of the voting population in Nigeria, hence the need for government and stakeholders to involve them in decision-making bodies.
Kolo also called on federal lawmakers to reconsider all the gender bills that were rejected during the Constitution amendment last week.
The lawmakers, she recalled, 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.
“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 proposed 35 per cent participation of women in politics had not been achieved, adding that there was need for equal participation of women in decision making globally.
According to Kolo, EWIP is an organisation that seeks to mitigate violence against women during elections and encourage participation of women in politics in the country.
She then charged women to redouble their efforts by registering and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and use their numerical strength to make their mark in politics.
