Women Affirmative: Benue First Lady Leads Campaign For Legalization

The wife of the Benue state governor Dr Eunice Ortom has called on the legal practitioners to join the advocacy for the legalization of the Affirmation Action for women.

In a paper titled “Affirmative Action and the Quagmire of Constitutionality in the Nigerian Electoral Process” during this year’s Law Week organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch, held on Saturday night in Makurdi.

She pointed out that there were only a few groups or organizations significant in the push for the policy to be enshrined in the Constitution like the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

She said there was no better way of actualizing the proposed 35% affirmative action for women than legalizing it as a law in the Nigerian Constitution since there was an improvement in the involvement and inclusion rate of women in politics, administration and governance today as compared to the past.

Mrs Ortom described the development as unfortunate since, after decades of willful commitment to treaties, policies and international conventions, Nigeria was still taking the back spot on the role of nations who are politically gender-sensitive and operate an inclusive governing system.

She, however, commended the struggles by past and present stakeholders in the pursuit of women’s inclusion and participation even as she called on the Federal lawmakers to subsequently allow the passage of the Gender bills saying that it was one fight that if won, will be a victory for all.

Barrister Justin Gbagir, the NBA Branch Chairman while responding said, it was imperative to work towards the legalization and proper action on the Women Affirmative Action to allow women to contribute their productive quota to foster wholesome development of the nation.