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IWD: EU Decries Low Women Representation in Politics

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IWD: EU Decries Low Women Representation in Politics

By: Michael Mike

The European Union has decried the low number of women in political offices, insisting that there is no just gender representation in politics.

A statement by EU on Thursday to mark the International Women’s Day read: “Today, the percentage of women in politics is still far from being representative of our diverse societies. The overall proportion of female members in single or lower houses of parliament currently stands on average at 33% in EU Member States and 26.5% globally. We must continue to do more to inspire and promote the inclusion of women in politics.
2024 is a landmark year for elections throughout the world, with over 4 billion people being asked to cast their votes, including more than 400 million EU citizens who will vote in June in the European Parliament elections. On this International Women’s Day, we recognise the courageous activism of European suffragettes who fought for the right to vote when it was the privilege of men, and to every woman in all their diversity who plays a part in shaping a fairer and more equal society.

The statement added that: “In many parts of the world, regrettably women are still prevented from taking part in public life and in some contexts are entirely excluded from decision-making and public space. Across all societies, women continue to face discrimination and are at increased risk of online and offline violence. This is particularly acute for women politicians, journalists, and activists, in particular human rights defenders.

“In this year of elections, we encourage all women, including young women, everywhere to exercise their right to vote, to claim their space in society and to feel empowered to participate in political life.”

The statement said the global theme of the 2024 International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion”, which is in line with this year’s United Nations theme “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”. Women’s participation in society is of the essence, including in decision-making positions.

It revealed that on 6 March 2024, Vice-President Jourová opened the Commission’s “Women in public life” high-level event in Brussels, in the context of the forthcoming European Parliament elections, noting that different panels focused on challenges faced by women in politics, journalism, and civil society.

It added that participants discussed why women decide to leave public-facing positions and identified concrete solutions to end this trend, including with the engagement of the media platforms, regulatory bodies, and political parties.

The statement decried that women continue to be underrepresented in politics. In 2023, only 6 Member States achieved a gender balance of greater than 40% in their members of parliament (MP), with 7 Member States having fewer than 25% female MPs. The European Parliament is close to a gender balance of members of 40% women and 60% men.

It stated that: “As of January 2024, only 5 Member States out of 27 have female heads of state. Globally, women hold just 26.7% of parliamentary seats, 35.5% of local government seats and only 28.2% of management positions in the workplace. With the current slow pace of change, women’s share of workplace management positions will reach only 30% by 2050. The Commission will support Member States in developing and implementing more effective strategies to increase the number of women in decision-making positions, such as the introduction of gender balanced electoral lists that lead to better policies, to an anti-discrimination and anti-sexist culture and to stronger democracies that address the different social needs better.”

It further added that: “Today, the Commission also published its 2024 Report on Gender Equality in the EU, providing an overview of the progress made in implementing the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. Most of the actions set out in the strategy have already been accomplished. The first Commission led by a woman and composed of a gender-balanced College of Commissioners, and the first Commissioner for Equality have succeeded in putting gender equality at the heart of the EU agenda. The Commission also made sustainable progress in reaching gender balance at all levels of management. On 1 March 2024 women held 48.5 % of all management positions within the Commission.
The most recent breakthrough is the political agreement reached on 6 February 2024 between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The Directive is the first comprehensive legal instrument at EU level to tackle violence against women, which is still too pervasive. The Directive criminalises certain forms of violence against women across the EU, both offline and online. Female genital mutilation and forced marriage will be criminalised as stand-alone crimes. The most widespread forms of cyberviolence will also be criminalised, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (including deepfakes), cyber-stalking, cyber-harassment, misogynous hate speech and “cyber-flashing”. The Directive also provides for comprehensive measures for victims’ protection, access to justice and support, such as shelters, rape crisis centres and helplines. These measures will benefit victims of all forms of violence against women which are criminalised at national level.

“The past four years were marked by several important legislative milestones advancing gender equality. Just one year after the adoption of the Gender Equality Strategy, in March 2021, the Commission put forward a proposal for a Directive strengthening the equal pay principle through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms. A political agreement on the Pay Transparency Directive, was reached in December 2022, in record time, paving the way for the adoption of the Directive in May 2023. The new transparency and remedies rules will help to ensure that the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, enshrined in the Treaty since 1957, finally becomes a reality on the ground.
As of August 2022, the new EU-wide work-life balance rights for parents and carers started applying. In September 2022, the Commission presented the European Care Strategy, linked to new targets on early childhood education and care to enhance women’s labour market participation.

“In November 2022, ten years after it was proposed by the European Commission, the Directive on Gender Balance on Corporate Boards was adopted. This new EU law will help break barriers hindering women’s career advancement.
On 8 March 2023, the Commission launched the #EndGenderStereotypes campaign, which ran throughout last year. The campaign challenges viewers to reveal and question gender stereotypes in career choices, care responsibilities and decision-making.

“In October 2023, the Commission became a party to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence – the Istanbul Convention. The EU is now bound by ambitious and comprehensive standards to prevent and combat violence against women in the area of judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement and with regard to its public administration. This includes funding, policy, and legislative measures.

“In Autumn 2023, the Commission established an EU network on the prevention of gender-based violence and domestic violence. The network provides the space for Member States and stakeholders to discuss new and emerging issues of violence prevention, exchange of knowledge and good practice.

“The Commission will put forward a Recommendation on preventing and combating harmful practices against women and girls in the course of 2024. The Recommendation will identify actions that Member States could take on the ground to tackle harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, forced sterilisation, forced abortion and early and forced marriage.

“Throughout the years, the Commission has funded projects and organisations promoting gender equality and tackling gender-based violence through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme. All projects funded under the CERV programme are expected to take into account gender equality and non-discrimination in their design. Currently, two calls for proposals of a combined total of up to €35 million are open for submission to prevent gender-based violence and support victims, and to address the causes of the gender care gap and implement the Pay Transparency Directive.

“There was also progress in the EU external action. Advancing women’s equal participation and leadership is one of the priorities of the Gender Action Plan III for EU external action. Increasing the voice and leadership of young women in policy and decision-making is also a priority of the first-ever Youth Action Plan in EU external action. One of its flagships, the Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative is focused on strengthening the rights, empowerment, and participation in public and political life of youth and women as key actors of development and change. On March 14th the €11.5 million Women’s Political Participation component will be launched in the framework of the Commission of the Status of Women in New York.

“In November 2023, the Commission and The High Representative have issued the Joint Mid-term Report on the Implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan, focussed on the results of EU external action for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. Since the adoption of the GAP III three years ago, major new EU initiatives and programmes have been launched at global, regional and national level, including several Team Europe Initiatives supporting women and girls’ empowerment from sexual and reproductive health and rights to equal access to quality education, to access to finance for young female entrepreneurs.
In 2021, the EU renewed its commitment to the 2021-2025 roadmap of the ‘Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies’ launched in 2013. This is a global initiative to implement structural changes in the humanitarian system to address Gender-based Violence.”

IWD: EU Decries Low Women Representation in Politics

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.

The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.

Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.

The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

All appointments take immediate effect.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

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Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

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Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria-Germany trade volume has hit an all-time high of €3 billion, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther said on Thursday

The envoy who addressed a press conference in Abuja said the 30% increase could be attributed to Nigeria’s economic recovery.

Gunther who called the press conference ahead of the joint Nigerian-German binational commission scheduled for Berlin, in German, noted that Nigeria remains “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of 3 billion Euros,” adding that: “Trade volumes have increased this year by 30% due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

The envoy equally revealed that more than 90 German companies are active in the country, “indirectly creating about 17.000 jobs in Nigeria.”

Gunther also told journalists that good times between both countries were not over, promising Nigerians that more investments are on the way, especially in the energy and the pharmaceutical sectors.

She revealed that in the energy sector, the Presidential Power initiative is now in the second phase.

She said: “This cooperation with the German energy giant Siemens will add about 7 Gigawatts to Nigeria’s Energy Grid. Secondly, the German –Nigerian cooperation in the Gas sector, eliminating gas flaring and improving Nigeria´s CO2 footprint.”

The envoy revealed that the relationship has also improved in the area of Visa and Migration as no fewer than 7,600 visas were issued to both students and short term stay, adding that plans were already in place to increase the number.

Gunther said: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travels on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration. Last year alone, the German Embassy here in Abuja and the German Consulate General in Lagos granted around 1400 long-term visas for purposes such as study in Germany, family reunion and employment as well as around 6200 visas for short-term stays such as business and tourism.

She revealed that: “This year, we are well on track to raise those numbers,” stating that:
“The German missions remain committed to furthering the bilateral relations by granting visas to properly documented applications.”

She also assured that in the area of military cooperation, Germany will continue to stand by Nigeria.

She said: “This year marked a new chapter: the launch of our first Bilateral Annual Programme, bringing military experts from both countries together for in-depth exchanges and joint planning.

“Through the Bundeswehr Advisory Group, Germany has been a reliable partner — supporting Nigeria with field medical expertise and counter-IED operations, car mechanical training and other interventions.

“And we’re not stopping here. Germany will continue to stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

“Next month, we’ll take this cooperation to the next level: for the first time, high-level military staff talks will take place in Abuja, opening the door to even closer collaboration in the future.”

She also revealed other areas of cooperation which includes support for the Nigeria police force and the drug enforcement agency amongst others.

In the area of stabilization efforts at containing impacts of terrorism and climate change, the envoy said: “Germany is supporting the development of resilient state institutions and the strengthening of local communities.”

She said focus are on the North East (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and the North West (Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina), “where initiatives such as the reconstruction of schools, health centres, markets, housing, and police stations are improving both security and daily life for local people.”

Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

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NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide

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NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide

*Constitute committee to oversee overhaul of training facilities

*Okays anticipatory action framework to prevent riverine flooding across 36 states

*As VP Shettima urges states to align with President’s growth targets

By: Our Reporter

The National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.
The President’s proposal followed a presentation made to Council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on the realisation of President Tinubu’s vision for a trillion-dollar economy, which also highlighted the necessity of investing more in security by the three tiers of government.

At its 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, NEC constituted a committee chaired by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to oversee the process of overhaul of training institutions for security agencies across the country.

The committee has a one month period to produce a blueprint for the renovation of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies nationwide.
Addressing members of the Council, President Tinubu highlighted the need for government to fix training institutions and facilities for security agencies across the country, assuring that his administration would make concerted efforts to reverse the dilapidation in police training facilities nationwide.

“We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,” he said.
Other members of the NEC committee are Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Kefas Agbu of Taraba, Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, with former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman, as secretary.

Also, President Tinubu urged state governors to also pay attention to issues that affect the wellbeing of the people particularly from the grassroot.

Earlier, Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim called on state governments to translate the optimism of the streets into real prosperity in homes and communities.

In his opening address, the Vice President Shettima reminded state governors that the measure of governance lies in the tangible improvement of citizens’ lives rather than rhetoric.

“The measure of government is not in speeches delivered; it is in the lives improved,” the Vice President said.

Highlighting one of the day’s major presentations, including the Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), VP Shettima reiterated the administration’s shift from reactive crisis management to proactive planning.

“It is no longer in doubt that rivers that once sustained our farmlands and livelihoods have also been the source of recurring tragedy for many of our citizens.

“Entire communities have watched their dreams drown in waters that could have been tamed through foresight and planning. True leadership anticipates danger and builds systems to prevent loss before it happens,” he said.

He commended the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for leading the charge toward disaster preparedness across the federation, noting that the framework will strengthen early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and subnational response capacities.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu presented a NEC memorandum outlining Nigeria’s trajectory toward a $1 trillion economy by 2033, describing the target as a test of coordination and clarity.

According to the Vice President, “This ambition requires coordination across the federation. It is our duty as a Council to interrogate the pathways, to assign responsibilities, and to ensure that our targets are realistic, time-bound, and transparent to the citizens who expect results.”

He emphasised that the roadmap aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises macroeconomic stability, job creation, food security, and subnational competitiveness as anchors of national prosperity.

Senator Shettima also commended the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA), a state-driven digital agriculture model designed to modernise service delivery and improve farmers’ access to data, markets, and climate information.

“Earlier this week, at the invitation of His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, I was in Katsina State. One of the progressive projects we launched is the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture, known as KASPA. It is a scalable framework for digital governance, farmer inclusion, and climate-smart productivity ready for sub-national adoption,” the Vice President said.

The platform, he noted, reflects the Council’s broader commitment to technology-enabled governance and inclusive agricultural growth that cuts across the thirty-six states and the FCT.

“The story of Nigeria’s recovery will not be written by chance but by choice—by the deliberate actions we take to protect our economy, safeguard our environment, and uphold the welfare of our citizens,” he said.

VP Shettima commended governors, ministers, and members of the Council for sustaining the NEC as a platform of trust, cooperation, and policy innovation.

Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:

NEC (6TH IN 2025) 153RD MEETING, THURSDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 2025.

PRESS BRIEFING:

UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES AS AT OCTOBER, 2025

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT – $535,823.39

STABILIZATION ACCOUNT – N87,665,172,169.67

NATURAL RESOURCES ACCOUNT – N141,585,815,908.16

UPDATE ON NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON POLIO ERADICATION BY THE CHAIRMAN, ALH. MUHAMMAD INUWA YAHAYA, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF GOMBE STATE

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee briefed Council that since its inauguration, the Committee has convened four times (June–October 2025), strengthening political commitment and coordination.

That Epidemiological data show continued progress, with cVPV2 cases dropping by 44% from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025. Kano and Katsina achieved major reductions (89% and 88% respectively). However, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi reported new cases (8, 4, and 2), highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance. Gombe remains free of new cases.

That recent In-Between Round Activities (IBRA) led to significant gains:
i. Settlements reached rose from 77% in August to 97% in September.

ii. Vaccine coverage in insecure areas reached 90% across key states.

iii. The first phase of the National Integrated Campaign (launched by the First Lady on 6 Oct 2025) was conducted in five high-burden states, reaching 60% of settlements and vaccinating 73% (Polio) and 57% (Measles-Rubella) of targeted children as of 12 October 2025.

iv. The second phase began on 18 Oct 2025 in Gombe, continuing integrated vaccination efforts.

Current activities and next steps

  1. The nationwide Integrated Campaign commenced on 6th October 2025 is ongoing across five states — Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
  2. The Integrated Campaign delivers a comprehensive health package, including Measles-Rubella and Polio vaccines, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) interventions.

Council Resolution:
i. Council urged state governments to ensure release of funds to their structures to improve statewide immunization exercise.

ii. The NEC urged sustenance of momentum to reduce polio infection and spread thereby safeguarding every Nigerian child.

PRESENTATION ON KATSINA SUSTAINABLE PLATFORM FOR AGRICULTURE (KASPA) BY SSAP INNOVATION NASIR YAMMAMA

The National Economic Council received a presentation on the Sustainable Platform for Agriculture by the SSA to the President on Innovation, Nasir Yammama. The presentation was on the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) as a model for adoption by sub-nationals and part of solutions to challenges militating against improved agricultural productivity and sustainability in Nigeria.

The SSAP said the model which focuses on empowering smallholder farmers and developing the agribusiness value chain leverages technology to provide farmers with integrated agriculture assistance, including extension services and market linkages.

Council Resolution:

Council commended the innovation to deploy technology in addressing challenges faced by farmers across Nigeria and urged state governments to replicate the model in the bid to unlock the full potential of agricultural production regions across the country.

Council also directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to capture in its 2026 budget, the establish of the agriculture data and control centre in the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.

UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON CRUDE OIL THEFT PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, SEN. HOPE ODIDIKA UZODINMA, GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE.

The Committee updated Council that it has met several times and Members have formed a common front to fight Oil Theft in Nigeria. Some Critical Stakeholders in the Industry were invited for discussions to extract very important information that will further the assignment of the Committee. The Committee also met with the Regulator NNPC, and some operators in the industry. Our determination to raise oil production is informed by the Nation’s quest for a One Trillion US Dollar Economy by the year 2030.

NEXT STEPS
Below are the next steps the Committee intends to undertake:

A. Obtain and analyze some important information/data from critical stakeholders to further assist its assignment.

B. Resolved to provide logistics support to outstanding States, Security Agencies and relevant Agencies in securing National Oil and Gas Assets.

C. Embark on physical visits by the Committee to all the Crude Oil Export Terminals

D. Carry out further Forensic Investigation

E. Periodically monitor the implementation of activities outlined in the workplan

Council Resolution:

Council commended the committee for a job well done and urged concerted efforts to improve crude production beyond the 1.72 million barrel per day and directed the committee to expand the scope of its work to cover illegal mining activities and theft of mineral resources across the country.

Council also noted that Nigeria is on course to hit 2.5 million barrels day by end of 2025.
End

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