The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to engage the National Assembly with a view to introducing affirmative action as part of electoral reforms to ensure greater representation of women, youths, and persons with disability.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day,
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the aim was to accelerate legislation on equal participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in the electoral/ political process and other areas of reform.”
Yakubu stated, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is delighted to join the rest of the world in celebrating this auspicious occasion, not merely symbolically, but as a practical affirmation of our commitment to deepening gender equality, representation, relevance, empowerment, and a sense of belonging.”
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” and the campaign theme “Inspire Inclusion”, Yakubu said inclusion had been a focal point of INEC’s commitment, encompassing gender, youth, and persons with disability.
He said the commission had developed and validated its gender policy with the full support of stakeholders and was diligently implementing it.
He added, “In the weeks ahead, the Commission will engage the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters to accelerate legislation on equal participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in the electoral/ political process and other areas of reform.”
Yakubu stressed that under him, the commission had complied and exceeded the affirmative action in the appointment of women.
“It is not by coincidence that the two successive secretaries to the commission are women and that the present commission deliberately created a whole Department of Gender and Inclusivity in 2021, dedicated to the promotion of inclusive representation in the workplace and the electoral process.”
He further disclosed, “Today out of 24 Departments and Directorates at the Commission’s Headquarters, 11 representing 46 percent are headed by women. We also have women serving as Administrative Secretaries in our state offices and heads of various departments at the state level. There is also no state in Nigeria without women serving as Electoral Officers (EOs) in charge of our local government offices.
“In addition to departmental and other responsibilities, the commission has also built and equipped a Crèche for the convenience of staff of all nursing mother’s categories’’.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, the National Commissioner and Chairman Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), underscored the pursuit of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), urging the administration to consider women favourably in appointments and adhere to the National Gender Policy’s 35% affirmative action on women’s appointments.
Another National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu commended the rise in the number of female directors in the 2023 promotions.
She said “16 females out of 55 directors is a far cry, however compared to where we are coming from, this is a remarkable improvement. Currently, we have a total of 19 females, 10 of whom are directors at the headquarters, and nine serving as administrative secretaries out of sixty-six 66 directors, including those awaiting posting.”
In her remarks, the Secretary to the commissio, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, expressed delight in the increased number of female directors in the commission which she said had improved over the years.
