Mr. President,

In March 2022, the Federal Government approved the Revised National Gender Policy (NGP) and committed to the implementation of its laudable provisions.  Since then, Government, Civil Society Organizations and International Development Partners have been working towards a realization of its vision for an all-inclusive Nigeria in which everyone counts and contributes to development at all levels. Considerable progress has been made in popularizing the NGP, its provisions and benefits with aspirations for its implementation by government, institutions, communities and families.

However, the recent announcement by your good office regarding the composition of the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), cast\s doubts on the government’s commitment to the spirit and letter of National Gender Policy NGP, the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), and the 2023 campaign promises of your administration. The expectations of women and other marginalized citizens for intentional Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) being reflected in every space and intervention stands at risk of being dashed. This leaves little hope for the full utilization of Nigeria’s human capital towards realizing its optimal development.

The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and its network nation-wide, particularly in the seven states of the North West, express grave concern over the absence of female representation on the NWDC inaugural Governing Board membership. This oversight raises critical questions in fostering inclusive governance, which would harness the valuable contributions of all its citizens, through equitable representation in line with Constitutional provisions, free and fair elections. To contemplate and actually omit to appoint women from the seven North West states not only smacks of injustice but also speaks of the relegation of a critical mass who bear the brunt of all the low development indices of the zone. IT CANNOT NOT BE AN ALL MEN’S JOB. Women and other marginalized groups from the zone are best placed to identify, contribute, benefit and evidence the impact of the Commission.

The Executive and the Legislature bear a responsibility to correct the persistent exclusion of women and marginalized groups in Nigeria ‘s political and governance landscape. WRAPA and its partners are advocating for the sincere adoption and implementation of the NGP in every policy, practice and development interventions. Bridging the gap of discrimination, marginalization, and outright exclusion is achievable especially through the conscious implementation the provisions of the NGP, including 50-50% affirmative action for women in leadership and governance.

Our Clarion Call

Sir, the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and its partner organizations hereby make this clarion call a revisit of the appointments to the NWDC Board membership and beyond to include women and award them leadership roles in its governance and operations.

We seek redress for this omission to ensure gender equity, empowerment and social inclusion is a deliberate policy and practice culture at federal, state and local government level institutions and structures. Together, with your good self and office as the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria we can create and grow a political landscape that truly reflects the diversity and strength of our country, paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive North West and a stronger Nigeria!

Thank you.

Saudatu Mahdi,

WRAPA Secretary General