Kwara State Governor Proposes N5 Billion Incentive for States with More Female Representation

Incentives of up to N5 billion have been proposed by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for states and constituencies that elect more women to government positions.

‘Even if it is just for the money and not the love for women,’ he said, the program might motivate more states to pass laws that would promote gender inclusiveness.

While speaking as Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), Governor AbdulRazaq stated he was informing the NGF’s Director-General to collaborate with Erelu Bisi Fayemi on the inclusion of such a program.

This year’s Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2023) took place in Abuja, and its topic was “Repositioning Women for Greater Impact.” The governor gave the keynote address.

He said: “We have enacted legislations in my state for women inclusion; we signed into law the 35 per cent inclusion of women in government. It’s not just about what we have done in the state, but where do we go from here? Using my position as chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), I have told the Director-General to work with the NGF and Erelu Bisi Fayemi for a programme in which states that elect women into the legislature will benefit financially.”

“So if a constituency or state elects women or include a high number of women in government, they should get N5 billion. So constituencies or states at the end of the day might be attracted by the financial benefits if not out of the love for the women.”

“Hence, it’s enriched governance and capacity building. Now, if we have such programs on gender issues, I’m certain many constituencies will go for the money even if it’s not for the woman. They will remain on the table to make the right decisions to make the desired change.”

“We have a president that is gender-sensitive, so I think this is the right time to push again for constitution amendment. I know you have the energy to do it.”

Nigerian women have some of the highest levels of education and wealth in Africa, according to Erelu Fayemi, wife of the former governor of Ekiti State and Chairperson of VOW2023.

She added: “Nigerian women are among the better educated and wealthiest women in Africa, yet this has not translated into political power. The level of representation of women in elective positions has gone down in the last four general elections – 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.”

“Nigeria is not only one of the countries of the world with the lowest level of women’s representation in elective office but also where very little progress has been made in promoting gender equality. In Nigeria, women occupy about 30 per cent of all posts in the public sector and 17 per cent in senior management and decision-making positions.”

According to Toun Sonaiya, CEO of Women Radio 91.7fm and VOW2023 convener, Women Radio Members in all six geopolitical zones are already reaping the benefits of the station’s Corporate Social Responsibility in the form of the RadioDoctor, their free health radio consultation program funded by the ACT Foundation.