The lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr. Shina Peller, has charged leaders of various political parties in Nigeria to ensure the full implementation of 35 per cent affirmative action on women inclusion in governance.
The federal legislator, according to a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Kola Popoola, made this call while he led a delegation of the Nigerian House of Representatives to the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain.
Peller, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group, explained that it was quite inspiring for him to observe that women constituted about 50 per cent of the Spanish parliament, adding that it was a call-to-challenge for Nigerians to ensure that 35 per cent affirmative action for women inclusion in governance was fully realised.
Giving the report of the visit, Peller said, “On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, I led a delegation of the House of Representatives to the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Spain.
“We had the opportunity to interact with parliamentarians of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain’s legislative branch to discuss further strengthening bilateral, diplomatic, and parliamentary ties between both countries.
“From my observations, women’s inclusion in Spain is inspiring with women constituting about 50 per cent of the parliament, which was a take-home for us.
“For any society to develop fully, women have a primary role to play, I challenge women and leaders of political parties to ensure that the 35 per cent affirmative action for women’s inclusion is achieved in Nigeria. We can’t afford to relegate these assets to the background anymore.”
Peller also explained that the visit was in pursuit of the mandate given to the committee by the Nigerian House of Representatives to create a system that could strengthen bilateral, diplomatic, and parliamentary ties between Nigeria and Spain, as well as promote trade, economy, education, and security of both countries.
About a month ago, The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) led an 11-man delegation to Madrid, Spain on a state visit at the invitation of the Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez. Peller is optimistic that all deliberations between the two countries will yield positive results.