By Rakiya A.Muhammad
For virtually all female local government councillors in Nigeria’s Northwest state of Sokoto, a significant achievement is being a role model to many women and young girls in their localities.
Their emergence in a state with no woman in any elective office is a testament to their courage and determination, boosting female political participation at the grassroots.
The move has not only produced positive effects and externalities in many social dimensions, such as girl child education, but also serves as an inspiration for many.
Fifteen-year-old Halima Aminu was one of many out-of-schoolgirls in Sokoto Northwest, Nigeria. She only realised the importance of education once she saw a female council emerge in her ward for the first time.
“I thought it was all about getting married as a female,” she says. “I never knew we, too, could hold positions in society and contribute our quota to development.”
She adds:”Every time, I see a female councillor, I yearn to emulate them. It made me realise the essence of education. How can I be like them without going to school and obtaining the necessary education? So, I went back to school.”
Over the years, female role models have been scarce in the Sokoto political system, with zero women represented at state and national assemblies.
The under-representation of women remains a recurring decimal in the Nigerian political landscape, even though they make up about half the population.
Statistics show that women in Nigeria have a declining share of elective positions.
Women hold only 3.38 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, up from 7 per cent before the 2019 general elections. The 2023 election saw a dwindling number of women in the National Assembly.
The Global Gender Gap Index 2022 rankings, a comprehensive study that measures gender-based disparities across various sectors, placed Nigeria 123 out of 146 countries globally and 27 out of 36 African countries.
This ranking indicates that Nigeria still has a long way to go in achieving gender equity and political empowerment.
It also notes, “The widest gap that Nigeria has to close is political empowerment, which has been widening since 2012 and currently stands at 96%, with Nigeria ranking 141 globally.”
However, to address the persistent gender gap, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal introduced a strategy that saw three women emerge as councillors in each of the state’s 23 local government areas.
This development sets the tone for female stewardship and engagement, offering hope for a more significant impact on reducing inequality.
“In all we do, we ensure we look after women’s interests and issues,” Tambuwal asserts.
“When I came on board, there was only one female permanent secretary; today, we have four. There was never a time we had women councillors in the state; today, in each local government, we have three.
“We have a scheme in the state where we give N20,000 to 1000 beneficiaries in each local government; 50 per cent are women, not 35 per cent. When we gave out N2 billion loans to traders, we guaranteed 35 per cent for women.”
He adds, “We have free maternal and antenatal care services in all our general hospitals, and when you come to party issues, we have complied with our party’s constitutional provisions of thirty-five per cent of women in the state executive council, thirty-five per cent of women in each of the 33 local government executive, and thirty-five per cent of women in each of the 244 election wards.”
Governor Tambuwal’s special place for women manifests in many of his administration’s other initiatives.
Among others, he established the first female education board in the state with the mandate to promote girl-child education.
He also found three girls’ science academies, one in each state senatorial district.
“In terms of leadership, His Excellency, the Executive Governor cleared the way for women to give their contributions to development through selecting us to serve as councillors at local government levels and appointing more women on political appointments,” declares Hon. Sadiya Abdullahi, Councillor representing Sarkin Adar/Gandu, Sarkin Adar/Gidan Igwai Sokoto North Local Government Council.
“Now, I am a role model within my community, and many young ones are emulating and appreciating my efforts toward community development in my wards.”
Hon. Aisha Abdullahi, Councillor Representing Magajin Gari A & B Sokoto North Local Government Council and Chairperson Women Councillors’ Forum (WCF) of Sokoto State, explains: “All the elected councillors of Sokoto are male, but in its effort to carry women along, the present Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal selected three women to serve as councillors to represent women’s interests.”
An exultant WCF Chair asserts: “Women in the state are very grateful to His Excellency for this.
The measure has increased our participation in political life and eroded the false attitudes that serve as barriers to women’s representation.”
For her part, Hon. Maryam Naguru Councillor Gagi A, B & C Sokoto South Local Government Council has long nursed the ambition to occupy a position of authority and support women, whom she notes are mostly left behind in leadership and decision-making processes.
“My passion for promoting women folks and ensuring community development coincided with His Excellency’s determination to select women with integrity and commitment to serve as a female councillor in the local government council,” she reveals.
“I am grateful to become the first female councillor in Sokoto South Local Government Council.”
Women councillors across the state have continued trailblazing in their local communities.
Like some counterparts in other local government areas, Hon. Aisha Abdullahi, WCF Chair, and the other two women councillors in Sokoto North established a skills acquisition centre where they build the capacity of women and girls and empower them to contribute meaningfully to society.
The WCF Chair started her community work as a health worker, working around the settlements for polio eradication and immunisation under the UNICEF intervention; this gave her opportunities to learn how to handle community challenges.
“I use the opportunity as a councillor to always show the women that they have the potential to contribute their quota for making the society well developed; from then, as I speak with you, more educated women increased within the communities, and many young ones are preparing to emulate my efforts in the communities,” she discloses.
“We are continuously creating awareness for women; even with this opportunity given to us, they know women can do good representation as we address many issues regarding their plights and concerns. Women prefer to forward their concerns, grievances, and problems to us as female councillors than our male counterparts.”
Similarly, the Councillor Representing Kware, Sabon Gida/Gidan Karma & Bankanu/Rijiyar Kade Wards Of Kware Local Government Council), Hon Shafaátu Yusuf Kware, has been prioritising concerns of women, such as sensitising women on political participation, girl child education, and health issues.
“I draw the attention of fellow women to participate actively in all the political formulations at grassroots levels and mobilise parents to allow their children, especially girls, to go to schools and allow their children to be immunised,” said Hon. Shafaatu, who is a member of various committees at the council such as public enlightenment and girls’ education committees.
“As a motivation, I support young girls with educational materials, such as bags, shoes, and uniforms.”
Hon. Shafaatu has been holding the position of Women Leader at the polling unit and ward levels.
“As a councillor, most young girls want to emulate me.”
Hon. Jamila Bunu Yabo is the councillor representing Yabo A and B Wards of Yabo Local Government Council. An elated Hon. Jamila speaks to her accomplishments since holding the political position.
“One of my major achievements was being a role model to many young girls in my wards. They see us and admire and wish to be like me in terms of leadership and services I rendered to the communities of my wards,” said Hon. Jamila.
Though a few saw them as ‘opportunists who were only selected to represent women in the council, the councillors have proved their worth in their various localities.
“Members of our communities appreciate our efforts, and the male councillors respect us as women colleagues and community development partners,” says Hon. Shafaatu.
Chair Sokoto North, Hon. Mustapha Shehu, underscores why the present administration took the initiative.
“It is difficult for women to be elected, but with this, we are making a road for them to be accepted and elected as people’s representatives,” he reveals.
It also shows women in this region that they are relevant and can contribute to national development.
He recalls that when they came, they faced a challenge from male councillors who claimed they were not elected but were selected to take up the seats.
“But we are simplifying their lives by providing them with their rightful place; the local government chairmen are required to include them, and we are doing just that.” We are protecting them from any harassment.”
He confirms that women councillors have significantly impacted public enlightenment, health education, and mobilising women to participate in politics.
The Chair expresses hope that successive governments will sustain the special seats for women in the spirit of equity and social justice.
Many have hailed Governor Tambuwal’s approach to facilitating women’s access to political positions, noting that enhancing female participation would benefit society.
“The governor’s action has not only directly increased women’s representation in leadership positions but also checked bias and discrimination towards women leaders and changed attitudes and social norms,” says social scientist Abdullahi Sani.
“With such a laudable move towards equity, Governor Tambuwal has ensured social justice, advancing development and democracy. It will boost performance and government quality at the local government level.”
But the issue remains. “A concern for women is representation in elective positions in the state. Even in the State House of Assembly, a man chairs the House Committee on Women’s Affairs. So far, no single elected woman, even as a councillor,” points out the WCF Chair.
However, most women counsellors say the experience improved their motivation to aspire to elective positions. They observe that other women have expressed interest in politics, indicating a potential increase in female participation in politics and a call for increased investment in women’s human capital.
“The Governor encouraged us by creating this foresight for us, as he ensured that every local government area must have at least three female councillors. We were 72 female councillors in Sokoto State, with a forum of all of us as members,” says Hon. Zaraú Bello (Councillor Representing Waziri A, B & C Wards Of Sokoto North Local Government Council) and State Secretary, Women Councillors Forum Sokoto State.
“We have the capacity and experiences now, among these female councillors, who, in the ‘near’ future, would come and seek the elective positions, and by Allah’s wish, we capture our Chairperson Committee of Women Affairs in the State House of Assembly.”
She adds: “The forum holds monthly meetings and discusses many issues concerning women’s participation in leadership and decision-making to ensure women are elected and represent their women folks at various levels, from councillorship to State Assembly members.”
Hon. Zarau, a grassroots woman politician with over two decades in the political circle in Sokoto State, coordinated various political organisations, including the Jibo Mazuga Movement.
The organisation campaigned and mobilised women, leading to the emergence of their preferred candidate for the chairmanship of Sokoto North LGA some years back.
She notes: “Some people thought or saw us as opportunists or selected by prominent personalities or political godfathers without knowing we contributed our quota to the development and progress of political structures in the state,” the WCF scribe states.
“I have the political ambition to run for an elective position, intending to serve my community; I am ready and ready to contest any elective office if I have the opportunity.”
The women leader is optimistic about achieving gender equity in Sokoto State.
“The present Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made efforts to ensure more women participate in the political process,” she notes.
“With this development, the journey has started. We will collectively support the female candidacy for elective positions as we have the highest numbers of voters. Soon, by Allah’s will, the jinx of male-only in elective positions will break.”