The Federal Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has assured its commitment to ensuring implementation of the court judgement on 35% affirmative action for women.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja on the 6th of April 2022 ordered the Nigerian government to implement the National Gender Policy (NGP) which provides for the allocation of 35 per cent of all appointments to women.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Tallen, speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday in celebration of the landmark judgement, said that meetings are ongoing with stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the judgement.
Tallen said that against the backdrop of neglect of women’s inclusion, more women are getting recognised for different appointments. She said that the struggle has gained better momentum as the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, is sounding positive in the current negotiation to have robust women inclusion in the party’s NEC.
She said, “I stand here on behalf of Mr. President to congratulate Nigerian Women for this landmark victory and to assure them that Mr President is committed to ensuring that this victory is sustained to ensure implementation.
“Yesterday, after council, I left my office and went to have a meeting with the SGF on the issue of what you are asking for (implementation), to make sure that at least we have 35% if not 50/50 representation in all board appointments. Before the council meeting, yesterday two boards were inaugurated; one was for the Population Commission, there was only one woman and the second one we had two women.
“So that was why I told you that the struggle continues. We are beginning to see positive changes and the president is committed. He joins us in the celebration of this landmark victory and asked me to congratulate all of you.
“The ruling party has made some remarkable improvements in the last conference for the first time because we always have only one woman, but now, we have 3 in the National Executive Committee of the party; the deputy women leader has never been a member, she is now there; we now have a deputy treasurer who is also a woman; we have zonal women leaders but our core struggle is the NEC of the party, not just the ruling party but across all parties. We are reaching out to PDP too.
“The last struggle before they called off the “occupy NASS” when they got in, they gave them 7 working days and it has elapsed and we are hoping that after this holiday when they meet, we believe that some of the bills will pass through. We have also intensified our advocacy and it will not go in vain, I’m confident about that.”
Responding to a question on the death of the gospel singer Osinachi, she said, “we are still mourning our sister Osinachi; the lady with the golden voice who has suffered so much pain, humiliation, beating and remained until death. We don’t hope to see any of such occurrences, women must speak out, women must come out, and another thing I’m appealing to all men and women of conscience is that neighbours should help because sometimes victims are under some kind of pressure.
“It is so breaking and sad that so many women are living under abusive marriages and they are afraid to come out of it because the society always blames the victim.
She assured that the case will be followed to the latter as President Buhari is aware of it, adding that the Inspector General of Police and every other officer in charge are committed to following the path of truth and ensuring that justice is done.
Speaking on behalf of the co-plaintiffs, the CEO, of Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Mufuliat Fijabi emphasised that work has just begun especially in facilitating successful implementation and obedience to the court order.
Fijabi appreciated the efforts of all 9 co-plaintiffs in the matter including the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, stating that the victory made on 6th April 2022 is being documented and will be widely disseminated as a learning point for other countries of the world to emulate upon completion.
“No doubt the journey to victory was both challenging and successful. The support to victory by the lead counsel, the Falana, and Falana’s Chambers through Mr. Femi Falana, (SAN), Mrs., Funmi Falana who argued the matter before Honorable Justice Donatus Okorowo of Court 6, Federal High Court, Maitama and Barrister Marshal Abubakar who was in court all through the process are appreciated. Women Radio 91.7 FM from the onset has been there to coordinate media visibility. You deserve all the commendation.
“Please be informed that the history made on 6 April 2022 is being documented and upon completion, it will be widely disseminated as a learning point for other strategies and other countries of the world to emulate and learn from,” she said.
She added that the Nigerian Women Trust Fund having initiated and coordinated the process leading to the victory, will continue to serve as a valuable coordination point in ensuring that the victory is sustained through structured efforts to support implementation.
Some of the efforts she said, include, “collaborating to disseminate information on the Judgment upon receiving the Certified True Copy, building a database of qualified Nigerian women, mapping of existing vacancies and several more.”
She, therefore, thanked the Honorable Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Tallen, (OFR), for all her support and said: “that we look forward to her continued support on the implementation of this judgement.”
