Kogi to establish Gender Desks in Ministries, Depts, Parastatals

Kogi Government is set to establish Gender Desks in all the Ministries, Parastatals and Extra-Ministerial Departments (MPDs) in the state as part of measures to address gender imbalance in appointments.

Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor
Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor

Mal. Usman Jimoh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development disclosed this on Tuesday at a one-day meeting organized in commemoration of the 2014 Public Service Day.

The meeting was organized by the ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Kogi-based Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID).

Jimoh said, “We have discovered that there is serious gender imbalance in terms of appointments to political, civil and other public offices and it is to the disadvantage of womenfolk at least, for now.

He said that of the 37 Permanent Secretaries in the state, only three, representing 8.1 per cent were women adding that in line with the 35 per cent Affirmative Action, not less than 12 of them were expected to be women.

Jimoh urged women to assert their population advantage, presence and competence by vying and competing for positions rather than write-off themselves on the grounds that men would not allow them.

“The hand that nurtures every human being from cradle to maturity is a woman. This can be replicated in nation building, let the women help us build this nation”, he said.

The state president of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs Fumilayo Olowosegun in her remarks said the “Quietness” of women over serious gender matters was rather frustrating their cause.

On the issues surrounding women appointments into Permanent Secretaries cadre, Olowosegun said the appointments though based on merit and qualification, should be gender sensitive urging government to accord women a special slot.

Mrs Christie Adejumo who represented the state chapter of Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) called for sustained enlightenment programme for women on their rights and awareness on steps to take in vying for positions.

Adejumo suggested that for all available vacancies, government should allot certain percentage to women instead of throwing them in same ring to compete with men on equal terms.

Mr Victor Adejoh, Project Manager with ActionAid Nigeria and Executive Director of PIBCID in his key-note address, solicited for understanding on the part of government, the challenges and plight of women in clinching certain positions.

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