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Nigerians Call For More Women In Governance, Say It Will Reduce Corruption

Published

2 months ago

February 2, 2023

Exasperated by rising corruption in Africa’s most populous country, stakeholders in the fight against corruption in Nigeria have identified adequate inclusion of women in governance as an antidote to public sector corruption while lamenting the government’s effort in implementing the revised National Gender Policy (NGP).

The call for the inclusion of more women in governance had been necessitated by the low representation of women in Nigeria’s governance structures.

Human rights lawyer Mary Musa led the call during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking during the programme, Musa stated that Nigeria would be heading in the better direction if more women are deliberately handed opportunities in political leadership and public service as they embody the values, character and integrity, which is needed in building a corrupt-free nation.

She noted that Nigerian women are prudent and have been equipped to instill prudence, character and integrity in the mind of their children and can replicate these virtues in leadership positions.

“If we (government) put more women who are prudent in the government spaces, political spaces, corruption will reduce drastically because they are coming with values, character and integrity. We are not saying take any woman because she is a woman, we are saying take women who know what it means to be in political offices.

“If we select those women knowing they are influencers in their spaces doing fantastic and credible jobs with excellent value systems, Nigeria is headed for a better place.

“We have credible women, but they face barriers like sexual harassment at workplaces. Even in politics, we have a lot of women going into politics, but there are god-fathers who want to take advantage of the young women coming into politics. It’s beyond being credible and competent. It’s about creating an enabling environment for the woman to thrive,” Musa stressed.

On the government’s lacklustre approach on implementing the revised National Gender Policy, she revealed that the most effective tool in persuading the Federal Government to implement the policy remains sensitization, advocacy and peaceful protest.

Musa also regretted that implementation of the National Gender Policy is stifled by a lack of political will and urged the government to enforce the policy and place punitive measures on public offices that fail to align with the provisions of the revised NGP.

On her part, Communications Manager Mujidat Agbabiaka backed Nigerian women to do well if given more opportunities in leadership, emphasizing that women have what it takes to participate in leadership and make the country better. She added that women must be encouraged and empowered to take charge of administration because of their discipline and integrity.

Agbabiaka said, “We’ve seen women out there doing well in their leadership capacity and their homes are not broken. They still perform their maternal roles. They still take care of their families, their husband and children, immediate and extended families.”

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, she advised women not to sell their votes to politicians, urging them rather to study the manifestos of political parties and candidates in order to make informed decisions.

“We know the roles the politicians play in impoverishing the women further by giving them seasoning cubes and wrappers as if those things matter in politics and electioneering. We have said that these things are wrong and women should desist from accepting gifts but rather look inward into candidates and see what they are offering based on their manifestos.”

Some Nigerians who phoned into the programme from Abuja, the nation’s capital, alluded that Nigeria would be better governed and less corrupt if women were given more leadership opportunities owing to their antecedents from the home front.

PRIMORG and the Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA) are collaborating to promote the revised gender policy of the Federal Government for more opportunities for women in Nigeria.

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation

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Yauri Emirate Stakeholders Meet Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Seeks Improve Power supply

Published

49 mins ago

March 22, 2023

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In an effort to increase energy supply and mutual relationship between Yauri Emirate, its environs and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), stakeholders from the Council have paid a courtesy call on the Management of the Company.

The Dallatun Yauri and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar who led the team on the visit on Wednesday, stated that the meeting is an offshoot of a letter written by the Emir of Yauri, His Royal Highness, Dr. Zaiyyanu Abdullahi to the Managing Director of KEDCO on the need to improve the electricity supply to Yauri Municipal and its environs as well as foster better understanding between the Company and the Community.

According to him “the delegation from the Emirate Council is here to present a passionate letter from His Royal Highness to the Management of KEDCO and to further discuss the challenges facing the community with a view to finding lasting solution to the epileptic power supply to the Emirate and its environs”

The Permanent Secretary who enumerated some of the consequences of irregular power supply which includes: job losses, potential collapse of small and medium businesses as well as increase in criminal activities, appealed to the company to improve on its public sensitization as well as introduce appropriate revenue accounting techniques by identifying and closing all leakages.

He further urged the Management of the Company to make adequate provision of meters for the Community and also ensure Company and Community relations through the creation of working groups to liaise with its local staff for prompt performance reports.

The Dallatun Yauri who thanked the Management for the warm reception accorded them, assured that the Emirate on its part will not only sensitize its people on the need for regular payment of their bills but also ensure continuous effective collaborative relationship.

He explained that the effort will also provide permanent solutions to the challenges identified.

Responding, the Managing Director, KEDCO, called on the Emirate to encourage their citizens on prompt payment of bills to enable the Company generate more energy for distribution.

While calling on the Council to discourage its subjects from indulging in illegal connection and distribution of electricity, hethanked the His Royal Highness for his outstanding leadership quality and assured that the Company will continue to partner with them, not only improved cordial relationship but also for effective power supply.

Members of the delegation include: Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katukan Yauri), Managing Director, HYPPADEC; Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu – Member, House of Representatives, and Alh. Rilwan Hussein Abarshi, Chief Executive Officer/ Principal Consultant, RHA Consulting.

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