MARY Ikoku, a right activist and member APC Presidential Campaign Council, and Ebere Ifenu, President, Women in Politics Forum, have expressed hope for the appointment of more women in the final ministerial nominations to be made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to them, APC women expected 50% allocation in the ministerial list from President Tinubu, stating that women had put a huge trust on him with the expectation that he’ll keep to the promises he made at different town hall meetings during his campaigns.
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Ikoku and Ifenu were guests of the programme, Prime Time Arise News last weekend.
When asked if they’re excited or otherwise about the list submitted, Ifenu, on her part, said women are not excited with the current list because they’ve craved for 35% affirmative action and they expected the President to do as the House of Representatives members supported and encouraged.
She however expressed the hope that there will be more women in the second list and that Nigerians should expect good governance from the women.
According to Ifenu, the women nominated are highly competent and efficient and will deliver in any ministry they are allocated.
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“We believe they’ll bring good governance and something on board. We know they’re going to make a difference; the bar is really high and we’re not expecting anything less.”
She further stated that the nominees are a plus for women in the southern part of the country as this is the first time they’re having a good number of women as minister-nominees. She expressed optimism in the nominees to be good ambassadors of women.
She cited Rwanda as a good example of a nation doing well under the leadership of women. “Nigeria Women are excited. Looking at the past, all women appointed so far have given their best. Rwanda is developing on a daily basis and this is as a result of women in government,” she said.
On her part, Mary Ikoku said she believes it is not too late to have more women nominees as a second list is still being expected to make up 35% as against the present 25%.
Making reference to the competence of Stella Okotete, one of the women-nominees, she said all the seven women-nominees on the first list are competent and highly qualified.
When asked what her expectation of the present government against the backdrop of the governance experience of the president, vice president, first lady and chief of staff to the president, Ikoku said: “Not being sure of what the portfolio would be, the president knows how to spot talents and they are doing something good that Nigeria would be proud of.
“This tripartite team are doing something in that villa. Because they’ve been legislators themselves, they understand legislation, they understand representation, and we’ll have round pegs in round holes”.
The ministerial list which was submitted by President Tinubu had a total of 28 nominees of which 7 were women. This makes up a 25% of Women.
The women in the list include; Barr. Hannatu Musawa, Dr. Betta Edu, Hon. Stella Okotette, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Mrs. Iman Suleiman Ibrahim and Dr. Doris Aniche Uzoka.
It could be recalled that the federal high court of Abuja in April 2022 had ordered the FG to enforce the National gender policy by allocating 35% of appointments in the public sector to women.
