Nigeria?s civil society organizations have protested President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?s recent cabinet reshuffle and appointments, citing a glaring lack of female representation in key ministries.The Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria, therefore, condemned the appointment of two men to head the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, labeling it a ?total aberration? and a disregard for gender equity.

At a press conference held at Arewa House in Kaduna yesterday, Comrade Aminu Abbas Arabi, national coordinator of the coalition, expressed dismay at the appointment of Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Hon. (Dr) Yusuf Tanko Sununu to lead the ministry, citing their lack of experience in humanitarian work.

Arabi argued that women are better suited to handle the ministry?s sensitive nature, pointing to the failures of previous male-led administrations.

The coalition, therefore, called on President Tinubu to reconsider his appointments and include more women in his cabinet, particularly in key positions, saying that he cannot fight poverty without women leading from the front.

They also appealed to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to use her influence to promote women?s empowerment and employment opportunities.

As Nigeria grapples with poverty, food inflation, and subsidy removal, the coalition warned that the current appointments would only exacerbate the crisis.

?It is our firm conviction and position that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is designed to be administered by a woman for effective service delivery.

?Granted that the last two women appointed to head the Ministry did not deliver as expected, is not enough reason to deny other qualified, dedicated and competent women of opportunity to contribute their quota to nation building.

?The failure of Sadia Umar Farouk and Dr Beta Edu should not be a bane to Nigerian women.

?It is unacceptable that both the senior and junior ministers in the Ministry should be male.

?We appeal to Mr. President to kindly reconsider replacing one of the ministers with a woman who we believe will pay more attention to the plight of the less privileged and downtrodden as it is typical of all women.

We, therefore, patriotically call on Mr. President to reconsider his choice of appointees for the ministry for the sake of Nigerians. A cabinet reshuffle and reassignment of portfolios to the ministers involved will not be a bad idea?, they said. (Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)

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