Mrs Jonathan wants more women participation in governance

Source: pointblanknews.com



Patience Jonathan
WIFE of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has urged the state Houses of Assembly to pass into law, the national gender policy on affirmative action, in order to facilitate women's participation in governance.

Mrs Jonathan gave the charge in Bauchi, on Monday, while inaugurating the state branch of the Women for Change Initiative.

While describing the Women for Change Initiative as an organisation aimed at ensuring positive attitude in women for greater development, Mrs Jonathan said the only the national gender policy could make impact was for states to pass law that would make the 35 per cent women representation in government compulsory.

She called on lawmakers in Bauchi State to emulate their counterparts in Anambra, Imo and Kaduna where the law had been enacted.

The wife of the president lamented that Bauchi State currently had no representation at the National Assembly, only two out of 30 members of the state House of Assembly were women, with two women permanent secretary and one commissioner in the state executive council.

She, therefore, called on the governor, speaker of the state House of Assembly and members to do their best to pass into law.

Tribune