Ministerials: Jonathan yet to meet 35% affirmative action

President Goodluck Jonathan has not met the affirmative action on the allocation of 35 per cent of his ministerial slots to women.

Pictures emerging from the ministerial appointments made by the President so far show that there are 13 (31 per cent) female ministers in his cabinet.

The female ministers appointed by Jonathan include: Zainab Maina (Adamawa); Rukayat Rufai (Jigawa); Hadiza Mailafia (Kaduna); Sarah Ochiekpe, (Plateau); Olusola Obada (Osun); Olajumoke Akinjide (Oyo); and Stella Odua (Anambra).

Others are Viola Onwuliri (Imo); Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (South-East); Ama Pepple (South-South); Zainab Kuchi (Niger) and Diezani Allison-Madueke (Bayelsa); and Omobola Johnson (Ondo)

At least, the names of 42 ministerial nominees have so far been sent to the Senate by Jonathan. The Senate has screened 41 ministerial nominees. The total number cleared as at Friday was 32, while five nominees were screened on Tuesday.

Four nominees — Nurudeen Mohammed, (Jigawa); Mrs. Omobola Johnson (Ondo); Mohammed Pate, (Bauchi) and Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina — were screened on Wednesday.

The nomination of a former Minister for Water Resources, Dr. Obadiah Ando (Taraba State), was rejected by the Senate on Tuesday. The President is expected another nominee from the state to replace him.

If Ando is eventually replaced, the total number of ministers appointed by Jonathan will be 42.

Allison-Madueke (Petroleum); Prof. Viola Onwuliri (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs); Odua (Aviation); Akinjide (Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory); Obada (Minister of State for Defence); Kuchi (Minister of State for Niger Delta); Maina (Women Affairs) and Rufai (Education) have been sworn in as ministers.

Although former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been screened, she has not been inaugurated.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved the appointments of three female ministers —Pepple; Ochiekpe and Mailafia ( Kaduna). Johnson (Ondo) was among nominees screened on Wednesday.

Jonathan had during the electioneering promised 35 per cent women representation in his administration.

The President had at the Mentorship Summit for African Women, organised by the Centre for African Women Leaders Think-Thank in Abuja on May 3, reiterated his commitment to his campaign promise of 35 per cent representation of women in his administration.