Sonaiya Applauds Sanwo-Olu On Female Cabinet Members

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been commended for appointing 32 per cent females to serve in his recently constituted cabinet.

Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, ace broadcaster and CEO, Women Radio 91.7, made the commendation, saying Lagos State has shown a genuine political will that is deliberate and intentional,  and is worthy of commendation.

“Good governance means an inclusive government and the appointment of 32 per cent females into the State Executive Council indicates that Lagos State through its party leadership understands that good governance through fair representation leads to progress and that women matter,” Sonaiya said.

She added; “Though 35 per cent was not achieved, 32 per cent is a positive political will for progress, inclusion and fair gender balancing.

“Any government that is not inclusive is bound to fail. A government that shuts its doors to gender-sensitivity is setting itself backwards and cannot progress. We urge other states and the federal government who are yet to appoint commissioners and boards of agencies and parastatals to emulate the Lagos State progressive approach.”

Sonaiya said the decision making process of Lagos State should be commended and urges Governor Sanwoolu and the party leadership to appoint 35 per cent females as chair of parastatals and agencies and 35 per cent females as board members.

In the same vein, Sonaiya urges President Muhammadu Buhari and his newly inaugurated cabinet members to approach all national issues with a gender sensitive perspective.

Sonaiya, who said it might be a bit difficult to achieve this because of the low representation of women in the cabinet, called for a conscious and deliberate effort to be gender sensitive in setting up and implementating policies and implementation across the country.

She urged President Buhari to fulfill his promise by assenting to the 35 per cent Affirmative action for women which she believes would promote women’s participation in governance.