NGF Chairman Proposes N5bn Incentive for States With More Women Representation

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has proposed a N5 billion incentive for states and constituencies that elect more female representatives in government.

Governor  Abdulrazaq made this call on Tuesday at the seventh Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2023) themed ‘Repositioning Women for Greater Impact’.

He said the initiative could encourage more states to enact laws that would promote gender inclusion, ‘even if it is just for the money and not the love for women’.

Kwara State Governor said he was using his position as Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), to inform Director-General of the NGF, to work with Erelu Bisi Fayemi for the inclusion of such a programme.

His words: “We have enacted legislations in my state for women inclusion; we signed into law the 35 per cent inclusion of women in government. It’s not just about what we have done in the state, but where do we go from here? Using my position as chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), I have told the Director-General to work with the NGF and Erelu Bisi Fayemi for a programme in which states that elect women into the legislature will benefit financially.

“So if a constituency or state elects women or include a high number of women in government, they should get N5 billion. So constituencies or states at the end of the day might be attracted by the financial benefits if not out of the love for the women.

“Hence, it’s enriched governance and capacity building. Now, if we have such programs on gender issues, I’m certain many constituencies will go for the money even if it’s not for the woman. They will remain on the table to make the right decisions to make the desired change.

“We have a president that is gender-sensitive, so I think this is the right time to push again for constitution amendment. I know you have the energy to do it.”

Wife of the former Governor of Ekiti State and Chairperson VOW2023, Erelu Fayemi, said Nigerian women are among the better educated and in wealthiest women in Africa, yet this has not translated into political power.

She added: “Nigerian women are among the better educated and wealthiest women in Africa, yet this has not translated into political power. The level of representation of women in elective positions has gone down in the last four general elections – 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

“Nigeria is not only one of the countries of the world with the lowest level of women’s representation in elective office but also where very little progress has been made in promoting gender equality. In Nigeria, women occupy about 30 per cent of all posts in the public sector and 17 per cent in senior management and decision-making positions.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Women Radio 91.7fm and convener of VOW2023, Toun Sonaiya, said across the six geopolitical zones, the Women Radio Members already benefit from their Corporate Social Responsibility through the RadioDoctor, their specialised free health radio consultation programme supported by the ACT Foundation.