Abuja: Former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has called on Nigeria's political parties to amend their constitutions and mandatorily allocate 50 per cent of appointments and elective positions to women. Tallen made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at a two-day capacity-building conference organized by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tallen emphasized the need for adopting a 'Zebra Policy or 50-50' pairing of male and female candidates. She suggested that President Bola Tinubu, given his background as a former governor, senator, and pro-democracy activist, should spearhead the gender inclusion initiative. She also called upon the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, to use her influence and experience as a four-time former senator to advocate for women's mainstreaming in Nigerian politics.
Tallen, who has served as Deputy Governor of Plateau and Minister of State for Science and Technology, described women as essential to successful election campaigns and political movements. She highlighted women's unique dedication, organizational skills, and persuasive abilities, noting their crucial role in mobilizing communities and connecting with voters.
She pointed out that women's participation in politics is often obstructed by deeply rooted gender biases and barriers in Nigeria's societal norms, cultural beliefs, and institutional structures. Tallen defined these gender barriers as obstacles that disproportionately hinder women from equal participation and representation in politics.
The former minister urged political parties to amend their constitutions to create special seats for women and to allocate at least 50 per cent of positions to women by the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that political parties are essential to promoting gender equality and inclusive participation. She called for commitment from all genders, lawmakers, civil society, and the electorate to drive unprecedented levels of female participation in politics.
Tallen emphasized that integrating women into Nigeria's political system is vital, as neglecting their participation sidelines a significant portion of national potential. She lamented Nigeria's low female representation in the National Assembly, with only 4.2 per cent of members being women, placing the country among the bottom five globally.
She advocated for the enforcement of existing gender policies and an upward review of the 35 per cent affirmative action to 50 per cent. Tallen also urged promoting the UN's Gender Equality's Sustainable Development Goal 5 and learning from countries with successful gender representation.
Earlier, NIPSS Director-General Prof. Ayo Omotayo reaffirmed the Institute's role as a neutral platform for national dialogue, emphasizing the importance of women's political participation for Nigeria's democratic progress. IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, acknowledged women's contributions while noting ongoing challenges like discrimination and under-representation, which he stated are not insurmountable.