By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen has heaped praises on President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing many women into key government positions in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) since the once of his administration.
She also revealed that no fewer than 34 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act just as she has berated the ruling All Progressives (APC) and indeed the political class for marginalizing the womenfolk in the scheme of things including the sharing of political offices.
Dame Tallen who spoke at the 59th Session of the State House Briefing organised by the State House Communication Team at Presidential Villa on Thursday said President Buhari’s administration has more than any other regime favoured women by appointing them into top federal government offices including the recent nomination of Ms Laurretta Onochie as the Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Amongst the women beneficiaries of President Buhari’s appointments are Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan; Minister of Finance, ZainabAhmed and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq.
Others are Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hajia Ramatu Tijani Aliyu; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hajia Gbemisola Saraki and Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, etc.
The Minister had during the briefing also provided key updates and strides being made by her Ministry in the key issues of gender and further put a spotlight on plans to bring about speedy and healthy development of Nigerian Women, Children, and the main-streaming of their rights and privileges in national development process.
Dame Tallen said Gender-based violence against women especially sexual violence and sundry abuses are being addressed headlong by her ministry, adding that the ministry under her watch has a Situation Room from where Gender-based violence complains are being processed.
According to her the ministry has introduced many programmes geared towards encouraging Girl-child Education and eradicating any kind of Gender-based violence while also carrying out many interventions to assist women in both the urban and rural areas.
Said she: “the Ministry of Women Affairs has done so much in ensuring that many states in Nigeria domesticate the Child Rights Act. I am proud to say that 32 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act at the moment because of the sensitization job we have done in that regards”.
“We have empowered about 50 million women and we have assist rural women in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) in Nigeria with gas cylinders as was directed by Mr. President”.
The Minister listed other interventions the federal government through her ministry has done as tree planting project and catering for the returned Chibok Girls who are at American University in Yola, Adamawa state.
Amongst other programmes her ministry is pushing are the National Action Plans , Women’s Peace and Progress, Nigeria For Women Programme and HeForShe Campaign which she said has received huge support among the menfolk.
Meanwhile, Dame Tallen has berated her political party, APC and other political parties for not giving women chance in the political space, saying that they are not fair to women in the struggle for political positions.
Said she: “We are mentoring women, preparing them for political positions but sadly, sadly even my own political party, APC has not done well in allowing women to play on the same turf”.
“Nigerian should be grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing many women into key government positions including in MDAs”.
“In fact, Nigeria women deserve 50% appointment. We are not begging it is our right to get equal appointments. The world is turning towards the women for leadership positions. I pray that the in-coming government will give women 50% appointments”.
