Adamawa women push for female commissioners, advisers

Women in Adamawa State, rising as members of different political parties, civil society organisations and other interest groups, have condemned what they described as political marginalisation against them, which they blame for their poor showing in the last general elections.The women whose leaders addressed a press conference in Yola on the issue, appealed to the state governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Fintiri, to appoint more female commissioners, advisers and heads of parastatls and agencies than his predecessor did.The women opposed the widely circulated statement of President Muhammadu Buhari suggesting that women essentially are material for the kitchen and the other room.The women leaders whose platforms held the briefing under the banner of the International Republican Institute (IRI) with funding from USAID, said women, rather than succumbing to antics to limit them to the kitchen and bedroom, are working towards better participation in politics and governance.READ ALSO:DPR uncovers smuggling depot in AdamawaA member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Hon Mamuno Kate Raymond, who spoke for the women leaders and read the text of the press briefing, urged the state government to increase the number of women and youths appointed as commissioners, senior special advisers, executive secretaries, caretakers and heads of parastatals and agencies.Government should initiate and implement policies and programmes on service delivery issues especially education, health, security, water and sanitation that affect women and youth directly,she added.She explained that the women participation advocacy activities, of which the press briefing was a part, came to be after the IRI supported the creation of women and youth advocacy groups which articulated the needs of women and youths in the state.She called for the support of bills that protect and promote the rights of women, youth and persons with disability, and disclosed, during a question and answer session, that she was sponsoring a bill that provides for effective prosecution of cases on all forms of violence against women and youths, especially in view of rampant rape cases around the state.
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