Nigerian MP Urges Stricter Implementation Of 30% Female Representation In ECOWAS Parliament
By Innocent Odoh and Punarimam Fehintola in Lome, Togo
Ahead of the symposium of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) on Wednesday, October 2, Nigerian member of the ECOWAS Parliament has called on the regional legislature to implement the mandatory 30% female representation as enacted in the Supplementary Act on Enhancement of the Powers.
Hon, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing Third Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament (Sixth Legislature) in Lome, Togo, that it has become incumbent on the Parliament to pressure or sanction member states that failed to comply with the Act which requires each Member State to ensure that at least 30% of its parliamentary delegation is composed of women.
She lamented the dwindling number of female representation in most countries of the region and called for more advocacy and awareness.
She said “each of the countries sends a list of representatives from their various parliaments to the ECOWAS Parliament and it is mandatory that 30% of the nominations from the national parliaments must be women,” adding that the list from member states must include the youth and people with disabilities.
“We have gone further to say that if there is any national parliament that violates this requirement, there should be sanctions. Any country that sends a list that does not comply with the provisions will be sent back.
“But the issue is that most of these national parliaments don’t even have that number of women and that is going to be an issue.
“We are advocating for more women to join parliaments in their various countries because they have a lot to bring to the table and we believe that with greater advocacy, awareness and with the cooperation of various stakeholders, there will be more women into parliamentary positions in the ECOWAS Parliament.”
During this year’s ECOFEPA symposium with the theme “Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion,” the Parliamentarians hope to address challenges women face in accessing financial services aimed at unlocking women’s potential and driving regional development.
ECOFEPA was established in 2003 and inaugurated in March 2010. It comprises all female parliamentarians from the 15 ECOWAS Member States and provides a platform for these parliamentarians to unite and discuss issues affecting them as women and politicians.