DAME TALLEN COMMENDS NASS FOR GIVING ADDITIONAL SEATS FOR WOMEN

Oru Leonard

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, OFR, KSG has commended the 9th National Assembly of Nigeria (NASS), for adding 111 seats for women.

The Minister who disclosed this in a statement on Friday encouraged more women to partake in politics, adding that “better days for women in politics are around the corner”.

“I want to on behalf of Nigerian Women to salute the Leadership of the 9th National Assembly, especially the Senate led by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, and the House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The year 2021 represents a great milestone in our advocacy for increasing the participation of women in governance and decision making as a Bill that seeks to create 111 additional Special Seats for Women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives”.

Dame said the bill which is sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, when passed into law, 37 additional seats will be created in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for Women.

She disclosed that the Bill also provides that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the State will be created exclusively for women in each State’s House of Assembly.
“This Bill is expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only Women in the National Assembly and the State of Assembly.

“As a temporary measure to promote women’s representation, the Bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing, or abolishing the temporary measure.

“As we await the final reading, we will not rest on our oars in praying for them”, she said.