Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) has called on the leadership of the Abia state assembly to support and promote the passage of the gender representation bill as law in the state.
A statement signed by the WIPF National President Ebere Ifendu, appealed to the state Governor, H.E Dr. Alex Otti, to assent to the gender representation bill when passed by the Abia state Assembly so the bill can become law, saying this will enable the increased representation of women in governance and leadership positions in the state.
According to the statement, the call for inclusive representation became imperative as inclusion is a major hallmark of true Democracy, maintaining that the women in Abia state are well deserving of having their voice, input and representation in governing Abia state else we fear that the government may just be the government of men and not the government of the people.
“We urge everyone to own and prioritize this legislative revolution for gender and social inclusion in governance in Abia state,” the statement said.
The statement noted the gender disparity in the representation of women in a state that has produced prominent female politicians, saying this has been a major concern to WIPF hence the campaign for the enactment of gender responsive legislation in Abia state.
It noted further that in both the previous and current dispensation, Abia state ranks among the 14 states without a female member of the state assembly. The state also does not have any female members in the National Assembly either. And in the state cabinet, there are only 2 women serving as commissioners.
“We call on all members of the Abia state Assembly to co sponsor the gender representation bill and vote to pass the bill and enact the gender representation law of Abia State.
“We call on women’s rights groups and Civil society actors in Abia state to join and amplify the advocacy for inclusive governance and the passage of the bill by the Abia state assembly,” the statement said.
“We call on the media to prioritize this legislative revolution for inclusive governance and promote related issues through the media.
“We call on all agencies of Abia state to ensure that the provisions of the bill are duly complied with upon the enactment of the bill,” the statement added.