The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and Member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Hon. Ali Isa JC, PhD, has reiterated his strong commitment to advancing women’s participation in politics and governance, stressing that democracy thrives best when every voice male or female is heard and valued.
Speaking in his office, Hon. Ali Isa commended the growing advocacy for women’s inclusion in the nation’s political space, noting that empowering women to lead is not merely an act of fairness, but a necessary step toward building a more balanced, just, and effective democracy.
He emphasized that sustainable national development can only be achieved when women are equally represented in decision making processes, adding that their insights, compassion, and resilience remain invaluable assets to nation building.
The lawmaker further encouraged women to show greater determination, courage, and readiness to take up leadership responsibilities, saying
“Women must not shy away from leadership, they must step forward boldly, offer themselves for service, and continue to prove that governance is strengthened when both genders contribute their unique perspectives and abilities.”
He appreciated their advocacy and pledged his continued support for all initiatives aimed at promoting gender inclusion and equality in governance.
“A truly representative democracy is one where every voice counts, where women and men have equal opportunities to contribute to national progress,” he said.
Earlier in their remarks, a delegation of an advocacy group promoting increased representation of women in parliament paid a courtesy visit to the lawmaker.
The group expressed concern over the persistently low participation of women in legislative affairs, noting that despite the National Assembly being the cradle of lawmaking and policy formulation, women remain underrepresented and marginalized in the nation’s governance structure.
They therefore called for affirmative action and dedicated slots for women at both state and national levels to encourage equitable participation, ensuring that women are not relegated to the background in politics and leadership.
BY Ruth Abubakar Absolom. This story resonates, following the emergence of Ruth Abubakar.