Women constitute 50% of Spanish parliament, Nigeria must measure up – Lawmaker, Shina Peller

Nigerian lawmaker, Shina Abiola Peller has called for the implementation of 35% affirmative action for women’s inclusion in governance.

Peller made the call shortly after he led a delegation of House of Representatives members to the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Spain.

Noting that women constitute at least 50 per cent of the Spanish parliament, Peller said it was quite inspiring for him to observe that women are deeply involved in governance in Spain.

The lawmaker who represents the Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State said it was a challenge for Nigerians to ensure that 35% affirmative action for women’s inclusion in governance is fully realized.

The lawmaker added that for any society to develop fully, women must play their roles.

He then challenged women and leaders of political parties to ensure that the 35% affirmative action for women’s inclusion is achieved in Nigeria.

“Yesterday, Tuesday 28 June 2022, I led a delegation of the House of Representatives to the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Spain. We had the opportunity to interact with parliamentarians of the Congress of Deputies, and the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain’s legislative branch to discuss further strengthening bilateral, diplomatic and parliamentary ties between both countries.

“From my observations, women’s inclusion in Spain is inspiring with women constituting about 50% of the parliament, which was a take-home for us.

“For any society to develop fully, women have a primary role to play, I challenge women and leaders of political parties to ensure that the 35% affirmative action for women’s inclusion is achieved in Nigeria. We can’t afford to relegate these assets to the background anymore.”