The Speaker of the Edo House of assembly, Marcus Onobun, on Monday, said that Governor Godwin Obaseki had given more than 35 percent affirmative action to women in the state
Onobun disclosed this in Benin when he received members of the International Federation of Women Lawyer (FIDA), who were on a protest visit to the state assembly, to register their displeasure over the rejection of gender bills by the national assembly.
He said “For us in Edo state, women have received more than the mandatory 35 percent affirmative action in the state executive council and other appointive positions in the state.
“Women must rally round themselves in seeking for elective and appointive positions in order to attain the objective of the affirmative action.
“I want to say that I sympathise with you and to encourage you to push harder in the future,” he said.
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The speaker called on women to be more actively involved in politics by vying for every elective positions equally available to their male counterparts.
According to him, it was rather unfortunate that the national assembly had to reject all three requests, but assured that the Edo government led by Obaseki had given more women opportunities to serve.
Earlier, members of FIDA led by the chairperson ,Mrs Violet Olumese, protested to the assembly the rejection of the requests presented by women to the national assembly.
Olumese lamented the denial of the requests of women to actively contest elective and appointive positions.
She said it was also unjust to deny Nigerian women the right to take Indigeneship status of their husband’s state, after several years of being together.(NAN)
