Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, a civil rights advocacy group, called for more possibilities for women to lead positions in the NASS on Wednesday, ahead of the commencement of the 10th National Assembly in June.
This came as the group backed Princess Onuoha, a member from Imo State’s Onuimo/Isiala Mbano/Okigwe Federal Constituency, for the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
HURIWA said in a statement read at a media briefing in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, that because the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, zoned the Deputy Speakership position to the South-East zone, it was only reasonable and acceptable for the party with the majority of members in the National Assembly to choose a woman for the role.
The group said already, the 10th Senate and 10th House of Representatives, which will resume by June are male-dominated, with about 20 women in both legislative chambers.
HURIWA said it was appalling that the APC and its President-elect promised women inclusion during their campaigns but paid lip service to affirmative action as well as gender and equal opportunity in Nigeria immediately after their election.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It is just insensitive for the APC not to include a single woman among the top six political positions in the country despite the party’s spineless promises about affirmative action.
“APC should ensure 35 percent affirmative action for the leadership of the National Assembly and reserve the office of the Deputy Speaker for a very competent lawmaker in the person of Hon Onuoha.
“Onuoha has the requirement to be the next Deputy Speaker of the green chamber. She fought and defeated men in the general elections and she is ready to repeat the feat. She has also raised the bar of leadership and has promised to improve legislative-executive dialogue with fresh ideas to ensure resolutions don’t become tissue papers.
“We believe that Hon Onuoha can be a record-breaker after Patricia Etteh, the first female Speaker of the House between June and October 2007.”