By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Mr Issa Aremu, Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), has called for special seats for women in the House of Assembly.
Aremu made the call in Ilorin, while speaking at an event to commemorate the International Women’s Day organised by the institute.
The event was themed: “Advancing Women Through Unity: The Impact of Collective Support – Give to Gain.”
According to Aremu, there should be deliberate and intentional efforts to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s political leadership, which currently stands at a low 4.2 per cent in the National Assembly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill aims to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
Currently, women hold only 4.2 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, with four senators and 17 representatives out of 109 and 360 seats, respectively.
Aremu stressed the need to address the imbalance in women’s representation and promote gender equality in governance.
According to him, the “Special Seat” is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria’s development, as women’s representation in governance is linked to improved social policies and stronger democratic legitimacy.
“This is to consolidate the policies that President Bola Tinubu has put in place to encourage women participation.
“There are women that are holding critical positions. We should encourage women in office.
“When men are calling for violence in politics, women call for dialogue. When men turn the world upside down, women can make a difference in world politics.
“We saw it during the COVID-19 pandemic; countries led by women did not engage in denial,” he said.
Aremu commended Tinubu for stabilising the economy and safeguarding workforce in the nation.
Also speaking, the Representative of the Minister for Labour, Mrs Rachel Adeoye, Assistant Chief Labour Officer of the Federal Ministry of Labour, enjoined women to be articulate, resilient and hardworking.
“Women should stand up for themselves and be independent, while engaging themselves with trade and entrepreneurship,” she said.
Adeoye urged women to empower themselves with the knowledge of the labour laws in the country.
“Most women in the workplace are not favoured, and it is because they don’t know their rights,” she said.
In his lecture, the State Director of Nigeria Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Dare Abdulganiyu, described mothers as the “womb of the world”.
He encouraged Nigerian women to aim high and achieve their greatest goals in life, adding that women must not be seen as rivals but partners in progress and development.
Abdulganiyu also advised women to inculcate hard work, honesty and cultural values to their children to protect them from vices such as internet fraud, get rich quick syndrome and drug abuse. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase
