Only 334 Out of 2,385 Parliamentarians In West Africa Are Females

*Nigeria has the lowest representation, Says ECOWAS Commission 

By JUSTUS NDUWUGWE, Abuja

It has been revealed that out of the 2,385 parliamentarians in ECOWAS member states parliaments, there are only 334 females while male parliamentarians are 2,051 as at 28th February, 2018.

This was made known yesterday by Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne, Commissioner, Social Affairs and Gender, ECOWAS Commission, Abuja during the first session of the ECOFEPA regional summit on “ECOWAS Women’s Political Participation and Representation in Democracy and Governance in West Africa” at the ECOWAS Parliament, Abuja.

Besides, Dr. Jagne disclosed that “Senegal has the highest female representation of 41.8 percent while Nigeria has the lowest female representation with 6.4 percent in national parliaments”.

“These figures show that even though women make up at least 50% of the electorate, they are systematically and culturally disadvantaged, and there is an urgent need to scale up female representation in West Africa to ensure that we deliver on the dividend of democracy and good governance to all”, she added.

According to her, “to contribute to addressing the challenges of women’s poor representation in West Africa, the Department of Social Affairs and Gender in collaboration with the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security worked collaboratively to develop the ECOWAS Gender and Elections Strategic Framework and Action Plan to serve as advocacy document to promote women’s political participation and representation in democracy, and their role in the electoral processes”.

The framework specifically sets out to “improve the integration of gender equality perspectives in political parties governance processes, structures and systems and to enhance the role of national electoral stakeholders, and to support and integrate gender dimension in their activities in the electoral process”.

Earlier, the President of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, Senator Stella Oduah, noted that “although there are some women in the sub-region breaking barriers to successfully participate in politics, most women, especially those in the rural areas, and even those with required technicality and qualifications, are encumbered by socio-cultural and religious practices, inadequate financial resources, volatile political environment, political party discrimination and absence of support from friends, family and the media.

She therefore recommended that “legislation is imperative in emancipating women and freeing them from socio-cultural shackles.  Laws deliberately aimed at improving the plight of women economically and politically must be promoted and passed”.

“The laws must prohibit discrimination against women by political parties and engender their protection against political violence.  Legislation backed by implementation is the vehicle to creating an enabling environment for women to participate in politics and thrive”.

Speaking on “Boosting women’s participation in politics and decision making bodies”, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria & ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey said that “UN Women is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the ECOWAS Commission to strengthen collaboration on women’s empowerment and gender equality concerns, including boosting women’s participation in politics and decision making bodies”.