Women lobby for 15 ministerial positions, 35 per cent of federal appointments

VARIOUS women groups in the country are lobbying President Goodluck Jonathan to concede 15 ministerial posts and 35 per cent of other federal appointments to women.

Acting under the auspices of Gender Affirmative Action and the 100 Group Platforms, the women said the demand was based on the president’s pre-election campaign promises.

They noted that the president had unequivocally declared that he would give women 35 per cent of all appointments if re-elected following the massive support he enjoyed during the campaign.

“Nigerian women, who form the bulk of voters, translated their large turnout into massive votes for the president during the elections. It is now time for our president, who has proved to be a man of his words and integrity to honour his promise of 35 per cent appointments to women,”the women said.

Their demand is coming against the backdrop of last week’s retreat by Jonathan with PDP leadership at Obudu Cattle Ranch over zoning of offices and the new federal cabinet.

The women contended that the fulfillment of the promise would be in tandem with the commitment of President Jonathan to adequate representation of women in the structures of the newly elected government and parliament.This, they said,would be in line with the National Gender Policy, the 35 per cent Affirmative Action of the Beijing conference in China and international instruments, to which Nigeria is a signatory.

They requested that a minimum of 15 ministerial appointments should be given to women even as they insisted that the list of advisory personnel should reflect at least 35 per cent of women.