Electoral campaign season means promise season in Nigeria. These promises are typically bigger than life itself; most are never fulfilled. In 2023, many of President Tinubu鈥檚 promises targeted women, who made up. Now, if these promises were debts, Tinubu would owe every woman in the country at least 鈧35,000.
What鈥檚 going on?
Like every other presidential aspirant during the 2023 elections, President Tinubu released a manifesto document. His was titled 鈥淩enewed Hope 2023鈥擜ction Plan for a Better Nigeria.鈥 In this document, he promised to reserve for women. It鈥檚 been over two years since he made that promise, yet he鈥檚 nowhere near hitting that mark.
So, how many women are actually in his cabinet?
In his 2023 ministerial list, President Tinubu appointed nine women out of 48 ministers. That鈥檚 about, far below the promised 35%. If you think the bar is in hell, you鈥檇 be surprised that it dropped even lower with only eight women now in his cabinet. The percentage is down . The reduction is partly due to a reshuffle that saw as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction by Dr Nentawe Yilwatda in October 2024.
Why does this matter?
Representation isn鈥檛 just about numbers; it鈥檚 about giving people a seat at the table where decisions affecting them are made. With women making up of Nigeria鈥檚 population and 47.5% of voters in the 2023 elections, it鈥檚 fair to say they鈥檙e a force to be reckoned with when it comes to shaping the country鈥檚 future. But despite their contributions, women continue to face systemic barriers in politics and governance. The 35% promise was meant to address this imbalance and ensure women鈥檚 voices are heard at the highest levels of government, but here we are.
What could the administration do differently?
President Tinubu still has time to course-correct. If he wakes up one morning and decides to make good on his promise, he can start by appointing more women to other federal positions, boards, and agencies. He can also be more deliberate in assigning more women to key roles where they can make tangible impacts, not just serve as tokens of diversity.
Will Tinubu鈥檚 administration ever fulfil its 35% promise?
It鈥檚 hard to say. With two years gone, it seems less likely, but things could still change if Nigerians, especially women, continue to hold the administration accountable. Campaign promises should be treated like contracts, and citizens have every right to demand delivery.
In the end, promises to women are more than political bargaining strategies鈥攖hey鈥檙e commitments to justice and equality. Failing to meet these promises is disappointing; it鈥檚 a disservice to nearly half of the nation鈥檚 population.
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