Affirmative Action: Saraki's Senate vs- Gender

His Excellency Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu LL.M,, UNN

Yesterday I was at a conference call with Gender Icon Iyom (Barrister) Josephine Anenih former Minister of Women Affairs, we deliberated on concerns for inclusive clauses often seen in modern day Constitution, to reflect  same in the ongoing exercise for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution. She confirmed legislative advocacy visit to your exalted office this week whereat she met with your Excellency and with some of your distinguished Senators to whom she made presentations as follows:

1)   To have a clause admitting of a female senator for every 2 in each senatorial district plus a similar provision for the house of reps such that women would have 30-35% representation in parliament against the sore state of 8% presently in parliament.

2)    Inscribe affirmative action clause in the proposed amendment for cabinet such that a minimum of 35% is achieved for women.

My learned Lady Jo Anenih who is  also your learned colleague has yet received approval to these gender proposals of concern to us, hence I write to  underscore the need for fair representation.

Sir, kindly do not pass the constitutional amendments with nil clause for gender.  Not a few members of Nigeria’s gender unit stood up to fight in the early days of campaigns for Senate to elect its officers, and at great risks to our lives and limbs, an assignment undertaken of our own volition.   As it turned out the Senate President and Deputy SP triumphed in line with section 50 of the CFRN that Legislators must elect its own officers from “amongst themselves”.

Impressions that Senate President Saraki is somewhat anti-gender does not advance the cause. You know his late Dad wanted his Kid Sister to be Governor Kwara State and SP was said to have blocked it. His Excellency the Senate President is a man of the present generation one of the most educated politicians in Nigeria with a pedigree,  was his late Dad a former Leader of the Senate not obviously pro-gender he wanted his Daughter Ms Gbemi Saraki to win so should SP ostensibly promote the affirmative action.

We look forward to the language of inclusivity in the amendment Sir.

Respectfully,

Attorney C N Ajie

Constitutional and Human Rights Law

LL.B(Hons) Benin; B.L(Lagos); MCIArb(UK); LL.M Georgetown, Washington DC

Fellow, Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) 2010

Vital Voices Lead Fellow 2013

IBA Human Rights Working Group Africa Regional Officer 2014-2016

UN Women Global Champion for Change 2016-2017