The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has raised concerns over the low participation of women in Nigerian politics, describing it as a significant obstacle to the nation’s growth and development.
During a recent address, Aribasoye stressed that inadequate female representation in political positions undermines inclusive governance and calls for urgent corrective measures.
According to Aribasoye, while women have made substantial contributions across various sectors, their presence within political offices remains minimal.
He noted that this imbalance goes against the principles of fairness and equality and deprives the country of diverse perspectives crucial for effective policy-making.
“This stark under-representation not only undermines the principles of democracy, but also impedes the nation’s socio-economic development. When women are excluded from decision-making, we lose the invaluable perspectives, experiences and insights they bring to the table for drafting policies that truly serve the needs of our communities”.
Highlighting the extent of the disparity, current data shows that women occupy only 4.47% of the seats in the National Assembly, with a mere eight female senators and thirteen female representatives out of a total of 469 seats.
This statistic places Nigeria among the countries with the lowest female parliamentary representation worldwide.
Aribasoye identified various barriers responsible for the underrepresentation of women, including cultural practices, threats of violence, exorbitant campaign costs, and issues surrounding indigeneity.
He emphasized that women married outside their birth constituencies often struggle to gain political acceptance in their marital constituencies, which further limits their opportunities.
“This stark under-representation not only undermines the principles of democracy, but also impedes the nation’s socio-economic development. When women are excluded from decision-making, we lose the invaluable perspectives, experiences and insights they bring to the table for drafting policies that truly serve the needs of our communities”.
He also reiterated the need for affirmative action policies to boost women’s participation in politics.
Referring to the Nigerian government’s 2000 National Policy on Women, which aimed for a 30% increase in women’s political representation, Aribasoye noted that the country has yet to achieve this goal.
