Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Dr Obafemi Hamzat have been commended for appointing 32% females to serve in the state’s cabinet. Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO Women Radio 91.7 FM, has said that Lagos State has shown a genuine political will that is deliberate and intentional, which is worthy of commendation.
Good governance, Sonaiya said, means an inclusive government and the appointment of 32% females indicates that Lagos State through its party leadership understands that good governance through inclusiveness, fair representation leads to progress and that women matter. Though 35% was not achieved, she said 32% is a significant positive political will for progress, inclusion and fair gender balancing.
She urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his promise by assenting to the 35% Affirmative Action for women, which she believes would promote women’s participation in governance.
“Any government that is not inclusive is bound to be challenged in achieving major successes. A government that shuts its doors to gender-sensitivity is setting itself backwards and cannot progress. We urge other states and the federal government who are yet to appoint commissioners and boards of agencies and parastatals to emulate Lagos State’s progressive approach,” she said.
Sonaiya further said that the decision-making process of Lagos State should be commended and urges Governor Sanwo-Olu and the party leadership not to relent in their efforts and appoint 35% females as chair of parastatals/agencies and as board members.
In the same vein, Sonaiya urges President Muhammad Buhari and his newly inaugurated cabinet members to approach all national issues with a gender-sensitive perspective. Sonaiya, who said it might be a bit difficult to achieve this because of the low representation of women in the cabinet, called for a conscious and deliberate effort to be gender-sensitive in formulation and implementation of policies across the country.