By Idris Khalid.
The Alheri-YS Foundation, has called on the Bauchi State House of Assembly to strengthen and institutionalise the 35 per cent women’s representation commitment in governance and public decision-making in the state.
The executive director of the foundation, Alheri Yusuf, made the call on Tuesday during an advocacy and policy engagement with the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman.
Alheri Yusuf said the delegation was at the Assembly on a courtesy and advocacy visit under the ASPIRE Project, implemented by Alheri-YS Foundation with the support of Plan International Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
She said the organisation was seeking partnership with the legislature towards promoting inclusive governance and greater participation of women in public decision-making.
“We have come not to confront, but to partner; not to criticise, but to dialogue respectfully with this Honourable House as a critical stakeholder in deepening inclusive governance in Bauchi State,” she said.
Alheri presented the foundation’s draft Advocacy Policy Framework for the implementation and strengthening of the 35 per cent women’s representation commitment in governance and public decision-making.
According to her, the framework seeks to promote women’s meaningful participation in government committees, appointed public structures, executive decision-making, legislative processes and political leadership.
She said the proposal was developed in the spirit of partnership and respect for the culture and religious values of the people of Bauchi State.
“Women in Bauchi State contribute immensely as professionals, educators, health workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, civil servants, community leaders and caregivers. Yet their participation in formal decision-making remains very low,” she said.
Alheri noted that there was currently no female member in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, comprising 31 members, describing the situation as an indication of the need for deliberate measures to improve women’s participation in governance.
She, however, acknowledged the appointment of women by the present administration, including four female commissioners, three female special advisers and female heads of some government agencies.
She said the number was still below the 35 per cent benchmark contained in Nigeria’s National Gender Policy.
According to her, the National Gender Policy 2021 provides for 35 per cent affirmative action for women in elective and appointive positions.
She also cited Nigeria’s commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Alheri said the absence of a formal state law or policy to give practical effect to the commitment remained a gap that the proposed framework sought to address.
She explained that the framework proposed a minimum of 35 per cent substantive representation for qualified women in appointive positions, including boards, committees, councils and task forces, with full voting rights.
“For elected positions, including membership of this Honourable House, it does not seek to alter constitutional processes. It advocates for an enabling environment by supporting women’s participation in political parties, nomination processes, mentorship, leadership development and safe political participation,” she said.
The foundation also proposed transparent appointment processes, the creation of a database of qualified women in Bauchi State, quarterly monitoring and the involvement of traditional and religious institutions as partners.
Alheri further called on the Assembly to sponsor and pass a Bauchi State Gender Equal Opportunities Bill to provide legal backing for the 35 per cent commitment.
She said although an executive order could provide immediate effect, legislation would offer a more durable legal framework beyond the tenure of any particular administration.
“While we support the issuance of an Executive Order to give immediate effect to the 35 per cent commitment, an Executive Order alone is not enough. It can be set aside by a change of administration.
“We therefore respectfully and passionately appeal to this Honourable House to sponsor and pass a Bauchi State Gender Equal Opportunities Bill to give the 35 per cent commitment lasting legal force,” she said.
Yusuf said the proposed legislation would also strengthen the oversight role of the House Committee on Women Affairs and position Bauchi State to improve gender-responsive governance.
She added that the foundation was ready to provide technical support, evidence and stakeholder inputs to facilitate the legislative drafting process.
Responding, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y. Sulaiman, assured the delegation that the demand for 35 per cent representation of women would receive the attention of the Assembly.
“On this matter of 35 per cent reservation, I assure you that we will look at what can be done.”
“I can assure you that the House will definitely take it up and prioritise the bill to see what we can do,” the Speaker said.
Sulaiman explained that while the Assembly had the constitutional responsibility to make laws, implementation of such laws rested with the executive arm of government headed by the governor.
He assured the civil society organisations of the Assembly’s continued cooperation and support, saying he would study the proposal and explore the possibility of having it enacted into law.
“You are welcome, and your request is accepted. I promise you that I will go through it and see the possibility of this bill passing into law,” he said.