By RITA ILIYA

Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger has pledged that all the vice-chairmanship positions in the forthcoming local government elections in the state will be occupied by women.

Bago made the pledge in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, on Thursday in Minna.

This, he said, was a further demonstration of his administration’s commitment to women’s inclusion in governance.

According to him, women have been marginalised for too long in spite of their significant contributions to the society.

“Women are crucial to the country’s growth and development, and when given the opportunity, they can drive meaningful progress and transformation,” he said.

Bago stated that empowering women at the local government level was essential for sustainable development across the state and the country.

“This is not just about fulfilling a quota; it is about recognising the strength, resilience and intelligence of our women,” he said.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to breaking barriers for women in leadership and ensuring they take their rightful place in decision-making processes.

He called on the All Progressive Congress (APC) stakeholders to support this initiative, saying that it aligned with best practices for inclusive governance and sustainable development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor had, during his inaugural speech in 2023, said that under his administration, all vice-chairmen and secretary positions in the 25 local government areas of the state would be occupied by women. (NAN)