By Lizzy Carr
In a major push toward inclusive governance, the ALHERI-YS Foundation has called on the Bauchi State House of Assembly to enact a Gender Equal Opportunities Law to guarantee 35% affirmative action for women in public office and decision-making roles.
The call was made during an advocacy visit to the Assembly, where representatives of the Foundation presented a draft policy framework outlining strategies to bridge the gender gap in the state’s political landscape.
The advocacy effort was organized under the ASPIRE Project, an initiative implemented by the ALHERI-YS Foundation in partnership with Plan International Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Presenting the framework, the executive director of the Foundation Alheri Yusuf highlighted the current underrepresentation of women in political leadership despite their vital contributions to the state’s development.
” Out of the 31-member Bauchi State House of Assembly currently there is no female members a reality that underscores the urgent need for structural legislative reform”.
While acknowledging recent efforts by the state executive to appoint women to key leadership roles, the Foundation stressed that administrative goodwill alone is insufficient. A permanent, legally binding framework is needed to ensure long-term stability across changing administrations.
“We are grateful to the present administration of Governor Bala Mohammed who appointed women in his cabinet, but this is not sustainable without a legal framework “.
The draft policy framework recommends mandatory Quotas, Reserving a minimum of 35% of appointive positions in boards, councils, committees, and public institutions for qualified women, complete with full voting rights.
The framework also talks about mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and safer environments for women running for elective offices,institutional Synergies: Engaging traditional and religious leaders, creating a database of qualified female candidates, ensuring transparent appointment processes, and establishing routine monitoring mechanisms.
Reaffirming its commitment, the ALHERI-YS Foundation expressed readiness to provide ongoing technical support and facilitate stakeholder dialogues to ensure the draft framework advances into law.
Receiving the delegation, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, assured the Foundation that the legislature would carefully review the proposed framework. While noting that female representation faces unique socio-cultural dynamics in the state, he emphasized that these challenges are not insurmountable.
