The National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Osun State chapter, has demanded that women should be given 35 percent representation in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The request was made public through the NCWS Osun chapter President, Dr Adeola Ayoola at a press conference held in Osogbo on Wednesday.
While applauding Governor Adeleke for approving the appointment of seven women into the offices of Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service, she said the women were expecting more.
In her words, “There are more than twenty nine ministries and we were given seven ministries making it twenty four percent.
“We want not ordinary women but women that we can relate to and access their office anytime.
“We want the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health.”
Dr Ayoola, who also introduced “Women In Good Governance Project” an initiative of the NCWS for women in all walks of life, noted that, ”Everyone of us on this platform, and others that will be added, have been identified as key stakeholders to drive this project and ensure its successful implementation.”
She further explained that Osun NCWS will embark on advocacy to encourage women’s active participation in governance and politics.
She, however, emphasised that the new project under NCWS is non-partisan, non-political and non-governmental and their expectation is improved governance in Osun State and not a move against the State Government.
In her own address, Citizen Lola Lewy said the Osun NCWS is asking, “for diversity, equality, equity and inclusion. These are the four things we are asking for everywhere.”
A top ranking member of the council in the state, Mulikat Adekunle queried having a man as Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“Someone who doesn’t know the nutrition to recommend for a pregnant Woman, someone who doesn’t know the time to be pregnant and give birth. Someone who doesn’t know how to train the child of a mad woman.
“We are not saying we want to be competing with men, what we are trying to insinuate is that men and women have different angles with which they think.
“Joining both together will make things go as they ought to. Women must be included in everything the government wants to do,” she stated.
