The Chief Whip of the Ogun State House of Assembly Hon Bakare, Omolola Olanrewaju has said that women deserve more elective positions in politics especially in Parliaments.
Bakare noted that at several meetings on the constitution amendment in Nigeria, female representatives are advocating that certain percentage of elective positions should be exclusively reserved for females to address having few females in elective posts like what obtained now.
The lawmaker shared this view when the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, NTA Chapel in Ogun State visited her to present the Most Gender Friendly Female Parliamentarian Award for her various contributions to the development of the women and Children in her Constituency.
Bakare, who is representing Ijebu Ode State Constituency at the tenth assembly after receiving the award vowed to continue to advocate for more women in elective positions until the thirty five percent affirmative action signed and ratified by Nigeria as a member of the United Nations are implemented to the letter to eliminate gender discriminations, ensure equality and human dignity to all, men and women.
According to her, the National Gender Policy has been formulated to promote a 35 percent affirmative action for women – a policy that demands 35 percent involvement of women in all governance processes formulated in Nigeria since 2006 but regretted that even though NGP is recognized but is not practiced as the structures and processes to use are not in place.
Towards addressing this, Bakare said a constitutional amendment process is currently ongoing at the National Assembly will address gender imbalance in Nigeria’s politics.
Earlier, Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists NTA Chapel Comrade Yemmy Dalemo commended the contributions of the lawmaker at the Ogun State House of Assembly and her passion to supporting Women and Children and the cordial working relationships existing between the lawmaker and her colleagues at the State House of Assembly.
Currently, Ogun State House of Assembly comprised of twenty six members with the Deputy Speaker Hon. Lateetaf Bolanle Ajayi from Yewa South Constituency and Hon BOO as fondly called being the only two female Parliamentarians.
