By Marcus Ikechukwu
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has not gotten over the outcome of the bill seeking extra legislative seats for women and affirmative action which failed to sail through on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
She gave herself away while expressing her disgust over the unfortunate event, describing some of the legislators who voted against the bill as shameless’, threatening that Nigerian women may have to mobilise and strategise on how to get their pond of flesh during the 2023 general elections.
She bemoaned the fate of the bill while addressing State House Correspondents, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to Tallen, such men need the prayer of Nigerians.
It will be recalled that prior to the constitutional review, Tallen had led the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari to the Senate chambers as a subtle way of lobbying the legislators but while the clause-by-clause consideration of the constitutional amendment at both chambers of the National Assembly went on Tuesday, it failed to garner the necessary votes to support the course.
The male dominated NASS voted against the bill to create special seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, including voted against a bill seeking affirmative action for women in political parties’ administration.
Her words, “It clearly shows that the men that were against the bill don’t have any respect for women, it’s clear. But I am not generalizing, not all the men in the National Assembly. We have the figures.
Seventy-two men in the House of Representative voted in support of the bill. So, I’m not generalizing. We are saying that, for those that don’t believe in it, we will continue to intensify advocacy for them to believe in gender equality, and the role that women can play when they are on the decision table to make Nigeria better.
“I want to assure you, that all hope is not lost. I have reassured Nigerian women that we should not be daunted, we should remain resilient. And we have already put in place strategies. Last night we all met the key civil society organizations and other women activists.
“We are strategizing with the female members in both Houses of National Assembly. And I want to assure you, that Nigeria women will not give up, we’ll keep pushing until we achieve the affirmative action”.
It was also reported that the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo was present at the review sessions when the bill was quashed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
