Members of the defunct All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Campaign Council have voiced their frustration with President Bola Tinubu over what they describe as unequal representation of women in recent appointments to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Elizabeth Ofuani Otunbalogun, spokesperson for the group, expressed dissatisfaction with the President’s handling of appointments, accusing him of sidelining women who had worked tirelessly during the 2022 and 2023 election campaigns. Otunbalogun criticized the President for failing to uphold his commitment to increase women’s participation in governance to at least 35%, as stipulated in the National Gender Policy of 2006.
She pointed out that, despite the President’s numerous appointments since taking office, women have been significantly underrepresented. According to Otunbalogun, women made up only 12% of appointments in 2023 and the figure remains low in 2024, with just 12 out of 99 appointments being women.
The group is urging President Tinubu to address this disparity by considering members of the defunct APC Women Campaign Council for the remaining appointments to bridge the 18% gap in gender representation.
Adesotu Vera, another member of the group, appealed to the President to implement the 35% affirmative action policy and ensure that qualified women, who have supported the party over the years, are given opportunities in positions of authority. Vera emphasized that the women in question are well-educated and capable, and should be included in the governance structure to empower themselves and contribute effectively.
The APC Women Campaign Council members are calling for immediate action to correct the imbalance and uphold the President’s promises regarding gender inclusivity in governance.
