The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it would engage the National Assembly to introduce affirmative action as part of the electoral reforms that would ensure greater representation of women, youths and persons with disability in elective offices nationwide.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the commemoration of the International Women’s Day celebration.
He added that in the weeks ahead, the Commission would engage with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters on this and other areas of reform.
The chairman stressed that the main theme of this year’s celebration is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” while the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion”, saying inclusion, in particular, has been a focal area of commitment of the commission covering gender, youths and persons with disability.
Yakubu noted that it was not by coincidence that the two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women, adding that out of 24 Departments and Directorates at the Commission’s Headquarters, 11, representing 46% are headed by women.
He revealed that the commission also have women serving as Administrative Secretaries in our State offices and Heads of various Departments at State level.
Yakubu noted that there is also no State in Nigeria without women serving as Electoral Officers (EOs) in charge of our Local Government Offices.
However, he said the Commission was aware of the concern raised by Nigerians about the low level of gender representation in elective positions nationwide.
The Commission shares this concern and we have consistently been urging political parties to redress the obvious under-representation of women, youths and persons with disability by nominating more of them as candidates for elections.
His words: “To accelerate progress in this regard, I will go as far as calling on the National Assembly to introduce affirmative action as part of the electoral reforms that will ensure greater representation of women, youths and persons with disability in elective offices nationwide.
“In the weeks ahead, the Commission will engage with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters on this and other areas of reform.”