Court order affirms appeal of female aspirant for 35% slot appointment for women into public offices
The Federal High Court ruling on Wednesday by Justice Donatus Okorowo that the Federal Government has obligations not only to implement the 35% affirmative action but also to make it a benchmark in appointments of women into public offices has bolstered the confidence of a female governorship aspirant in Cross River State.
Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia and ex-member of the Federal House of Representatives Hon. Ambassador (Mrs) Nkoyo Toyo who is running for the governorship position in Cross River State in the 2023 elections under the PDP platform had earlier expressed her desire for the national gender policy to be implemented in earnest backed by requisite legislation and actioned by the executive arm during a chat with LENS Reporter in Calabar.
A Non-governmental Organisation, women in Politics Forum (WIPF) filed a suit against the Federal Government seeking the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action in the appointments of women into public offices in the country.
The Court while delivering the judgment had asked the government to obey the equality clause contained in the 1999 Constitution as amended which treats both genders equally.
Toyo is on the same page with the ruling of Justice Okorowo who blamed successive Nigerian governments for failing to implement affirmative action which has resulted in agitations and litigations thereby violating international treaties on women’s participation in politics and government.
She used the occasion of her conversation with LENS to appeal for support as the only female aspirant to contest the position of governor in a male-dominated space.
By: Archibong Emmanuel.
(Snr. Reporter)
