By Akinwale Kasali
As the 2023 General Election draws closer, electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is set to organize a free, fair and credible election, by training its Staff for optimal performance during the election.
The Commission has organized a Three-Day Implementation Planning Workshop and Data Disaggregation training for gender desk officers in all the 36 States at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos.
Prof. Kunle Ajayi, an INEC Commissioner and Chairman Operation & Partner Committee, in his Opening remarks said women in Nigeria and in other parts of the world continue to be largely marginalised political through participation due to discriminatory laws attitude and gender stereotypes.
He added that the low level of education, lack of access to health,and promotional effect of poverty on women have been the causes of the marginalization women have suffered in recent times.
INEC adopted the gender policy in November 2014 to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable inclusive participation by all irrespective of gender both with commission and in the wider political space.
The development of INEC gender policy since 2014 has witnessed remarkable progress both at the headquarters and the state offices, part of which are the appointments of gender vocal persons at the headquarters and gender desk officers in all the 36 states and fet to enhance gender mainstreaming at INEC offices.
The Commission also created gender and inclusitivity department in April 2021,the creation of the department is to properly enhance the visibility and accessibility of marginalise groups in electoral process and increase their political participation and representation just enhancing the integrity of the commission. The training is expected to expose the participation to the tools required to drive the policy implementation process effectively and efficiently in their various states.
The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje represented by the Admin General Secretary, James Popoola said the Commission is passionate about inclusiveness in the electoral process,and has been on the frontburner of the commission’s activities in the preparation for the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states this year as well as the 2023 General election.
In his words, “The participation of women in the electoral process is very essential in every democratic setup which means democracy can’t have its full meaning unless every group is actively visible in the political space,this group includes women and person living with disability”.
Agbaje added that he believes that the outcome of the workshop will feed into other reviews that the commission’s has carried out most of which has been productive.
He, also, advised the participants to handle the seminar with the seriousness it deserves and relent on fresh ideas that can progressively enhance the execution of the provision of the revised document.
The Deputy Country Director of the International Foundation For Electoral System, IFES, Obaje Ukeh said IFES is glad to have supported the review of the gender policy and similarly the workshop.
He said the workshop bring together gender desk officers across the country to engage on the revised policy with clear intention in uniform understanding among key implementers of the plan to ensure the policy implementation.
IFES however recognises the inclusion in election and most specifically the increase of women in participation in electoral process.
