Development Education Centre (DEC) Enugu A Non Governmental Organisation
A Non Governmental Organisation, Development Education Centre (DEC) Enugu, has advocated a legislation that will make traditional rulers in states across the southeast zone to make at least 30% of members of their cabinets women.
DEC says not just “women” but women selected from different umbrella women associations in their community, who will represent the interest of women and children in particular and the community in general while working as cabinet members in the traditional rulers’ council.
DEC believes that if women were mainstreamed into governance from the grassroots, it will bridge gender parity, and creates room for mutually inclusiveness in decision making process that will be wholesome. The group equally canvassed that similar statutory legislation be made in the inauguration of community development associations and security outfits in different communities in the zone.
It also advocated that the political parties’ rules and the 1999 Constitution be amended to clearly state that a specific number of seats be set aside for women, starting from the ward level, local government area, state and the National Assembly.
The Executive Director, Development Education Centre (DEC) Enugu, Nigeria, Dr. Cecilia Asogwa, canvassed these views in a presentation during the 38th Annual Convention of DEC Assisted Women Self-help Groups in southeast and North Central Nigeria, held in Enugu. The DEC boss said the forum was an opportunity to present to the stakeholders significant milestones recorded in the year 2021 ending, while also using it to present future plans for 2022.
Dr. Asogwa stated that despite the ravaging impact of COVID-19 coupled with the unofficial Monday sit-at-home in the southeast, which seriously affected the rate of their performance in communities in the zone, the NGO was able to make some significant progress in 4 strategic thematic areas. They are governance; healthcare; access to microcredit; and skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. While highlighting achievements on women participation in community governance structure, Dr. Asogwa explained that 15 of the 20 communities that partnered DEC on the programme of inclusive governance from 2017-2021 had fully instituted women as members of Igwe’s cabinet, town union leadership, and vigilance group. She explained that during the period under review, 225 women of 1, 450 members of the three important decision making bodies in the 15 communities were women. “The outcome of this exercise has brought significant development in all these communities concerned, as these women’s contribution in the traditional ruler’s council is highly appreciated by their male colleagues in the Igwe/Eze’s cabinet,” the DEC Executive Director stated. Dr. Asogwa, maintained that the body would not relent in her commitment with the 25 new partner communities during the current project period from 2021-2024 in bringing about a more positive change in their communities for an inclusive sustainable society.