Mahmood Yakubu: Affirmative action key to higher women’s representation in legislature

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says affirmative action backed by law remains the most effective way of ensuring greater representation of women in Nigeria’s legislature.

Yakubu spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an advocacy visit by the Women’s Collective Forum on women’s participation and representation in elective positions and party leadership led by Nkoyo Toyo, a former member of the house of representatives, at the commission’s headquarters.

The INEC chairman said the visit came at a symbolic moment — two days after the world celebrated the United Nations International Day of Democracy with the theme “Achieving gender equality: From voice to action.”

“INEC is an equal opportunities organisation. We believe in inclusivity both in the workplace and in the discharge of our extensive responsibilities as an election management body,” he said.

He added that 12 out of 22 departments and directorates of the commission are currently headed by women, amounting to 55 percent of directors at the headquarters.

Yakubu said the commission has a gender policy that is regularly reviewed and a department of gender and inclusivity to promote access for under-represented groups.

He said political parties have also been urged to increase women’s representation in leadership, and some progress has been recorded, though “much work needs to be done.”

The INEC chairman noted that deliberate legal measures are required to improve women’s representation in elective offices.

“For elective representation, the commission believes that the most effective way of ensuring greater representation for women and other marginalised groups in the legislative assemblies is affirmative action supported by clear legal provision, as was the case in many jurisdictions,” he said.

He noted that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act is an opportunity to amend the laws in favour of women’s political participation.

“At our retreat early this year with members of the joint committee of the senate and house of representatives on electoral matters, we supported the amendment that will ensure greater representation of women in elective positions,” he said.

He commended the forum for its consistent advocacy and assured them of the commission’s continued support in promoting women’s participation and representation in politics and party leadership.