As part of the 2023 Democracy Day celebration, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has observed that the 10th National Assembly is not gender friendly as it lacks balance with only 17 women representation out of 469 members of both chambers.
In a press statement signed by President, Ladi Bala and National secretary, Helen Udofa to commemorate Democracy Day stressed that the development is so sad and worrisome as it does not reflect the diversity of the Nigerian society in any form
They said that the lack of women inclusion in governance and political participation over the years has remained a weak link in the core values of democracy and this is certainly not part of a true reflection of the Nigerian democratic dream.
“NAWOJ specifically maintains that the underrepresentation of women in the 10th National Assembly is a serious setback that requires deliberate action, noting that the time to set in motion the strategy for changing the narrative of underrepresentation of women at the National Assembly is now.
“NAWOJ, however, urges that while Nigeria and Nigerians should be commended for bracing the odds to ensure that sustainable democracy is entrenched, their resilience for a guaranteed and uninterrupted successive democratic administration since return to democracy in 1999 deserves applause,” they said.
