UK Slams Poor Representation Of Women In Nigeria’s National Assembly

The United Kingdom has said it is unacceptable that women are poorly represented in policy making and governance in Nigeria.

Permanent representative of UK to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, said this while addressing the UN Security Council on ‘Peace and Security in Africa’ with focus on Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UK envoy advocated for full participation of women in governance, saying the inequality gap in the country is spread across all sectors in the society.

“It’s unacceptable that women continue to be so poorly represented in formal governance and peace processes when time after time studies show that women’s participation in these processes aids their ultimate success,” he said.

“In Nigeria, for instance, women’s participation in the House of Representatives and Senate has fallen since 2011; it now stands at around five per cent.

“Women have spent too long enduring and surviving these crises; it’s long past time for them to play their fullest part in solving them.

“I’m looking forward to Amina Mohammed’s briefing on her visit to Nigeria and to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two crucial countries, including for the Women, Peace and Security agenda which was the reason for her visit that she will be briefing us on.”

Rycroft called on the UN to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, which has displaced a lot of women and Children.

“Put simply Mr. President, we need to break the cycle. And by we, I mean all of us, including this Security Council, but responsibility must fall, first and foremost, to the governments affected,” Rycroft said.

“It means governments holding to account those who have committed these crimes; showing that there can be really no impunity and no escape; that the rule of law applies to everyone.”