The list of 15 media aides recently appointed by the Acting Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Mrs. Diepriye Roseline Yankee-Robinson, has sparked concerns over gender balance.
Yankee-Robinson had approved the appointment of Preye Bagou as Chief Press Secretary, Dalayifa Samson as Director-General, New Media, and 13 others into the New Media team, in a statement she personally signed.
The statement said the appointments, which take immediate effect, were aimed at ensuring effective service delivery, with the appointees urged to uphold transparency and professionalism.
But the composition of the list has drawn criticism from a female stakeholder in the local government, Comr. Sagbama-owei Peremobo-ere Queen, who questioned the exclusion of women.
In an open letter posted on her Facebook page and addressed to the Acting Chairman, Queen said the dividends of democracy should be shared equally regardless of gender differences.
She noted that women contribute significantly and even risk their lives during electioneering campaigns to ensure victory for their candidates, but are often sidelined in the sharing of appointments.
According to her, women should not be seen only as tools for campaigns but should be given opportunities to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
“I may not know the motive why no woman was included in the chairman’s media aides but I think a swift review should be done because women have been deprived of so many things and we can’t afford to be deprived of the dividends of democracy as well,” she stated.
She urged the Acting Chairman to ensure fairness and equity in the administration of the council, adding that women must be empowered to support one another.
A check on the appointment list showed that all 15 appointees are male.
