Hon. Billy Osawaru, who represents the Orhionmwon/Uhumwode Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, has emerged as a strong advocate for inclusiveness in governance processes.
In a significant development that responds to the call for increased women's representation in leadership positions in Nigeria, the House of Representatives adopted a motion on Thursday to ensure the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action on women's appointments.
The motion, titled "Need to Ensure Beijing Declaration on 35% Affirmative Action on Women's Appointment into Position," was proposed by Hon. Billy Osawaru, representing Edo State. According to Hon. Osawaru, the National Gender Policy (NGP) had already formulated the 35% Affirmative Action (AA) in Nigeria since 2006, which demands the inclusion of 35% women in all governance processes. However, he expressed concern that this policy was not adequately practiced, leaving Nigeria behind several other African countries such as Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Namibia, which have surpassed the 40% mark for women's participation. Global reports have unfavorably ranked Nigeria in this regard, with the country placed 123rd out of 146 countries in 2022, and 181 out of 193 countries on the Gender Equity Index for low women's participation in governance. Hon. Billy Osawaru further urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the 35% Affirmative Action declaration for women's participation as he formulates his cabinet list.
The motion received strong support from Hon. Usman Balami, representing the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency of Borno State, and the House unanimously adopted the motion, referring it to the Committee on Women Affairs once constituted.
Hon. Billy Osawaru emphasized his commitment to the cause, stating that the low representation of women in various facets of Nigerian society, including politics and civil service, is concerning. He cited research showing that Nigeria lags behind smaller African countries like Rwanda in terms of women's participation, despite being a signatory to United Nations treaties promoting gender equity. The Honourable stressed that Nigeria's large female population makes it imperative to uphold the 35% Affirmative Action for women's participation.
Amb. Onyinye Mamah, the leader of Heroine Women Foundation, lauded Hon. Billy Osawaru for his willingness and courage in advocating for increased women's participation, aligning Nigeria with global standards.
The move towards ensuring the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action on women's appointments in Nigeria's governance system marks a step forward in promoting gender equality and empowering women to take on leadership roles.
As the motion progresses to the Committee on Women Affairs, these women's groups, along with many other advocates for gender equality, are hopeful that their efforts will lead to significant improvements in women's representation and participation in Nigerian politics and public life.
