The inauguration of the 10th National Assembly has come under threat as a Coalition For Women Participation In Governance and Leadership (CFWPGL) has threatened to take legal action to stop it.
OsunDaily News reports that the coalition which is made up of over 2,000 women groups threatened to halt the coming into existence of the 10th NASS if women are not considered for presiding officers in the Federal House of Representatives and all State Assemblies.
The coalition made the development known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary of the coalition, Atinuke Olaolu, in Abuja.
According to them, they had no option but to seek redress in a competent court of jurisdiction and obtain an injunction that would stop the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in the interest of equity and justice.
The group bemoaned the low representation of women in the incoming NASS saying the number of women that emerged in parliament in the 10th assembly is abysmal and it has negated women’s 35% affirmative action in governance.
The group, who also demanded the review of five gender bills which were rejected by the 9th assembly said ” The CFWPGL has decried the abysmal number of women that emerged in parliament in the 10th assembly.
“It is tragic that in a time Nigeria is meant to be growing into leadership, its women population are rather edging them out.
“Unfortunately, the federal government has aided this hanging of women by the gallows by also being in court with Nigerian women.
“The coalition, made up of over 2000 women’s coalition, is seeking to go to court to get an injunction against the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
“They hereby demand that a woman be considered presiding officer in the Federal House of Representatives, and all state assemblies with ranking members must consider women who are ranking to emerge as presiding officer and chair significant committees.
“Only 78 Women in total won in the entire election in the last 2023 Election, with only these women returning categorically to the 10th House of Representatives as ranking members while the Senate has 3 newcomers in the red chambers, the women at the HoR are as follows ; (APC/Abia); Beni Lar (PDP/Plateau), Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim (APC/Yobe), Zainab Gimba (APC/Borno), Blessing Onuh (APC/Benue), Boma Goodhead (PDP/Rivers), Aisha Dukku (APC/Gombe), Adewunmi Onanuga (APC/Ogun),, Tolulope Akande- Shadipe ( APC/Oyo, Taiwo Oluga (APC/Osun) and Miriam Onuoha (APC/Imo).
“However, it is only Rt. Hon Princess Miriam Onuoha has declared and thrown her hat in the race for Speakership of the House of Representatives and Nigerian women are solidly behind her and other women at the state assemblies who are also ranking for presiding offices.
“It is obvious mechanization by the misogynistic advances of the men in parliament to discredit whatever gains Nigerian women have had so far by edging them out.
“The Coalition for women’s participation in governance and Leadership is also calling out the president-elect to put practice his promise to include women’s participation at least 35% as demanded by the Revised Gender policy.
“He must also remember that this is a true test of the commitment to remove Nigeria from the red list and the hall of shame for countries who have no duty to ending all forms of violence against women.”
