Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has praised Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Honourable Minister of Interior, for his exemplary leadership in implementing the 35% affirmative action for women in recruitment across paramilitary services under his ministry.
In a statement signed by chairperson Mrs. Funmi Falana, WELA highlighted the significance of the 35% recruitment slots as a crucial step toward addressing gender imbalances in these sectors.
ENCOURAGING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION
WELA noted that this initiative will motivate more women to pursue careers in security, law enforcement, and emergency services. The statement emphasized the importance of prioritizing women’s participation in these areas to create a more balanced and diverse workforce, which will enhance the effectiveness of these agencies.
“The decision to allocate 35% of recruitment slots within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS), and Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) is a vital move towards addressing gender imbalances in these critical sectors,” the statement read.
COURT JUDGMENT AS A CATALYST
WELA expressed particular satisfaction with the implementation of this affirmative action, following the 2022 Federal High Court judgment (FHC/ABC/CS/1006/2020) by Honourable Justice Donatus Okorowo. The court ordered the Nigerian government to enforce the National Gender Policy by reserving 35% of public appointments for women, ruling that the exclusion of women from key roles constituted discrimination and violated Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“This judgment reaffirms the need to dismantle barriers to women’s participation in public spheres,” the statement added.
CALL TO ACTION FOR OTHER MINISTRIES
WELA commended the Ministry of Interior for taking significant steps to ensure women are included in decision-making and nation-building roles. The organization urged other ministries to follow suit and ensure that women are not sidelined in any sector.
“We believe this development will strengthen the country’s efforts towards gender parity and encourage more women to pursue careers in these vital fields,” WELA concluded.