Place of women in the Mutfwang administration

By JENNIFER YARIMA & PALANG KASMI

ON assumption of office, Governor Caleb Mutfwang gave women appointments into various positions. Their role in governance is key to the development of the state. Contrary to cultural and patriarchal stereotypes, more women are needed in decision making. The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), firmly believes that the equitable participation of women in politics is essential for strong democracy and sustainable development. As insinuated in many quarters, women shy away from the press. Are they afraid of public speaking or introverts and non-performers?

In the following interviews with the Plateau State Deputy Governor, Head of Service,  and other female political appointees playing strategic roles in governance in Plateau State, they spoke on how they are running their various offices and what they have been doing to ensure the development of the state, including some challenges of women.

Ngo Josephine Chundung Piyo, Deputy Governor, Plateau State

She is a seasoned politician and she assumed office in May, 2023. Hon. Piyo previously served as a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly from 1999. She worked as a nurse and teacher before joining politics. In 1999, she was elected to the Plateau State House of Assembly. Piyo then took the role of Special Adviser to the Governor of Plateau State from 2008 to 2011 and in 2018, became the Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Mrs. Piyo views her emergence as a motivation to other women desiring to participate in politics. “My position as the Deputy Governor has inspired many Plateau women”, adding that by picking her as his deputy, the governor has demonstrated his love and readiness to support women, particularly young girls to achieve their full potentials in life. “You can see that young girls in the state have started picking the challenge to become something in life. As further demonstration, the governor has appointed more women as commissioners and heads of agencies and parastatals. This has motivated more women to be bolder and confident in aspiring to vie for leadership positions in Plateau State.”

She rates the performances of women in governance in the state high, stating, “The women in this administration have been doing excellently well. They have proven that women can deliver like our male counterparts. We have so many women in different positions in the state. You can attest that they are doing very well.

“So far, so good, the government, led by our leader, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, is on track. You all know that we took over a state where workers were on strike, because they were owed salaries and pensions. The state was heavily indebted. But with doggedness, commitment and determination of the governor, coupled with my support and that of other appointees, we are gradually succeeding. We also came in the heat of insecurity in some parts of the state, but as you can see, we are also winning in that direction. Thank God we are on track and Plateau is moving forward. There are many other gains this government has been able to achieve in the last one year. Now Plateau citizens are speaking with one voice devoid of religious or ethnic affiliation.

“Secondly, it is visible that this government is gradually regaining the lost glory of Plateau and placing it on the path of sustainable growth and development. We have also boosted the intra and inter-state transport system. The rail mass transit will soon come up, majority of roads within Jos and environs are being rehabilitated and some are completely reconstructed. We are in talks with relevant authorities to improve flight operations from different parts of the country. We have provided fertilizers and other farming inputs to farmers in the state. We are currently training over 300 youths in agricultural ventures. In the area of security, you will recall that we have trained some of our youths as operatives of the Operation Rainbow who will serve as informants for the conventional security outfits in the state. We have also provided vehicles to security agencies, all with the aim to end insecurity in our state.

“Today, Jos and environs is gradually wearing a new look, because of our determination to make it truly a home of peace, tourism and hospitality. I can go on and on, because we are determined to change the fortunes of our people,” the Deputy Governor enthused.

She described her relationship with the Governor as “amazing”. “He is someone who carries everyone along, and has a listening ear. On my part, I have been a loyal assistant to my principal, giving him the needed support so that together we can take Plateau State to enviable heights,” Piyo reiterated.

Barrister (Mrs.) Rauta Dakok, Head of Service (HoS), Plateau State, is a seasoned lawyer, civil servant and activist.

She was Vice Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Plateau State, an active member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and was once chairperson of FIDA, Plateau State Chapter. Barr. Dakok was until her appointment the Permanent Secretary, General Administration, in the office of the Head of Service. A graduate of Law from the University of Jos (1988), Barr. Rauta Dakok started work with the Plateau State Government in 1990 as State Counsel and rose steadily, holding various positions, to reach the peak of the civil service where she served as Permanent Secretary in various Ministries. She also served in several committees and boards and was involved in many crucial assignments at the state and national levels.

Barr. Rauta Dakok said women are doing well in the Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration. “This government is an inclusive government. You will find out that both men and women are involved. You will find out that there are female commissioners, special advisers, and senior advisers, Permanent Secretaries, that are women.

“During the recent ministerial briefing where each ministry gave its score card, women in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were involved and they did well. Their performances in governance is rated very high. They are occupying key positions. For instance, the positions of Commissioner, Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of the Ministry of Finance are all occupied by women and what they are doing there is great. Before now, MDAs were not getting overhead costs to run their offices, but today I can tell you that overhead costs are being paid to ministries and agencies. From my office too, we are organising the agencies very well by coordinating the staff we post to work in various MDAs. Our scorecard is good in terms of the capacity we are building.”

Barr. Dakok said some of the common problems confronting Plateau women are non-availability of funds for self-reliance and over-dependence on their men. They are not economically strong like their male counterparts. She explained that “government is trying, through PLASMEDA, to empower plateau youths including women. Ministry of Agriculture has made available fertilizers which are being distributed without gender discrimination.”

The HoS said that her office does not discriminate in terms of employments or promotions as civil servants are promoted based on their capacity and performances.

She further elaborated the role her office has played in this administration: “We were able to recall civil servants who were on strike, tertiary institutions, both academic and non-academic staff. Years past, promotions were suspended, but now promotions are being worked out and issued to those that are found suitable to be promoted in the service. Currently, there are monthly releases of pension arrears, death benefits, and gratuities, from 1986. We have screened people of the first batch which covered the period of 1986-2009. About 892 people have benefitted so far. You don’t need to beg people in the Pensions Board for your name to be included. As you are being screened, they are following it year by year, and when there is any release being made, it continues from where it stopped.

“Another achievement we have made is approval of hazard allowance for the medical and health workers. We are already paying them. We have reviewed upward the burial expenses for civil servants, and the reparation allowance which used to be meagre. Today it is a different figure, depending on your grade level. You are paid the allowance as you retire from service, to enable you transport yourself home.

“We had problem of check-off dues and third party deductions being made to various unions, and in various ministries we have CTLS and other things. Currently, once they are deducted, they are sent to various organizations, and the unions to enable them use the funds to run their own associations. In addition, civil servants are allowed to go for in-service training. Some have applied and approvals have been granted to them. It is a milestone because if one keeps working without acquiring more skills and knowledge, it means one will not grow. What we do in my office is to approve training services for those that applied. For the housing department, there are civil servants that applied to occupy government accommodation and we allocate it to them.”

On Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the workplace, the HoS said no such case has been reported so far. She however called on civil servants to report any form of GBV in the workplace immediately. “In the event that any of our workers has been violated in that way and is keeping quiet, I urge him or her to come and report to us or the Gender Commission for appropriate action,” she reiterated.

Caroline Panglang Dafur, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Plateau State

She is a well-tested grassroots politician and gender equality advocate. On the issue of women’s acceptance in governance, Dafur rated the government high: “It’s obvious that this administration has placed so much value on women inclusiveness and participation in governance. This is reflective in the key and strategic positions and appointments occupied by women in the state,” Like Oliver Twist, Dafur said, “But, of course, we are still pressing and yearning for more to achieve the minimum 35% affirmative action on women participation.”  She rates the performance of women in Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration in the midst of their male counterparts as creative and said they are adding great value in governance. “So far so good, it’s not so surprising, knowing how innovative and creative women are in handling responsibilities and they’re natural multipliers,” adding that she is proud of what they’re doing. “I’m optimistic, together we will raise the bar to an enviable height.”

Dafur, however, identified some common problems Plateau women face, which include Gender Based Violence (GBV). “It’s a sad reality that women still suffer gender-based and domestic violence of all sorts ranging from spousal abandonment, discrimination and lack of proper mainstreaming, which have kept a lot of women economically disadvantaged. However, if your ears are on ground, you will know my ministry is leaving no stone unturned in advocacy and sensitization on the implementation of the laws that criminalizes all forms of GBV and ensure adequate social protection for all. We now have a gender commission, and a special gender designated court. We intend to match words with action to cope with these vices and ensure that women have safe spaces to thrive and reach their full potentials. We also have in place a joint task force which serves as an emergency response team against GBV and trafficking in persons.”

The Commissioner said since assumption of office, her ministry had recorded numerous successes: “The successful repatriation of over 100 children who are victims of trafficking at different places. We have arrested and prosecuted perpetrators and their accomplices who provided support for the victims. We have granted educational scholarships for some of the children. Some are acquiring skills and learning trades, while others have been successfully reunited with their families. We have constituted GBV clubs in at least 32 schools in efforts to sensitize and equip the young ones for proper upbringing and raising well informed Plateau children. As a ministry, we have revamped and restructured operations of orphanages and home operators on the Plateau, to ensure accountability and to eradicate practices that predispose our children.

“We have also reviewed the criteria for new operators. We have also ensured full implementation of the VAPP laws, the Child Rights Laws and the Gender and Equal Opportunity laws on the Plateau. We toured the 17 LGAs and engaged with all critical stakeholders, formed a joint taskforce for emergency response, and equally used the mass media to ensure adequate sensitisation of the populace about these laws that are now active on the Plateau.

“The Ministry marked 16 days of activism in the state with lots of advocacies, workshops, and awareness programmes against Sexual and Gender Based Violence. Same period was used for refresher training for the gender desk officers of the LGAs and social workers for effective service delivery. We have trained 102 widows for an extensive six-month vocational skills acquisition in tailoring, knitting and catering, and will give them tangible starter packs and grants for start-up.”

Hon. Dafur advised women who go through spousal abuses and other forms of violence in the society to speak out. “Like I always say, don’t die in silence, once you see a red-flag, report to the ministry for counseling, mediation or intervention before it gets too late for help and justice, as this administration is responsive and will ease your burden. Don’t die in silence.”

Hajiya Jamila Tukur, Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality

She is a grassroots politician, a great woman mobiliser in the politics of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area. She holds a Diploma in Public Administration, and has occupied political offices, including being a woman leader in Kurgwi Ward, and PDP Secretary.

For Hajiya Tukur, women are making waves and gaining acceptance in governance compared to the rigid practices of the past that did not even give them a chance to come out. “There are many women gaining acceptance in this administration, and many of them are in strategic positions. Apart from the Head of Service, there are four female commissioners, and others who are heading agencies like the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission. So there is a good representation of women in this government.

“Women appointed in this present government have done so well in their respective ministries. Great achievements have been recorded. At the grassroots more women are participating in politics and governance. Things are changing compared to what was obtainable in the past”.  Based on her assessment, the performances of women in this administration are great. “If you find out the ministries headed by women, they are performing well. Take a look at the Higher Education Ministry, where some of the problems facing tertiary institutions are being addressed, and this is being done by a woman. She has been able to assess some challenges.

“I came on board and saw that many things had been neglected. I embarked on assessment tour of all the parastatals and agencies under the ministry to see for myself. I was able to come up with some ideas which I used to advise the government. Government looked for private investors for partnership in places like the Jos Wild Life Park, Solomon Lar Amusement Park, Plateau Hotel, Jos Hotel, among other hospitality and tourism sites. The Rock Hotel has been abandoned for a very long time, so we are making preparations to hand it over to Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement so that government can generate more revenue.

“In some places where we are looking for the take-off of the PPP, they are set to kick-start the initiative. Past governments have been trying to execute the PPP, but it has not worked. But within the shortest period, arrangement is in top gear. In fact, we will take off any moment and hand it over for business. Some of the hotels we toured, like the Pankshin, Shendam and Plateau Hotels are in deplorable state. Because of my love for tourism and enthusiasm to turn around the fortunes of the sector, the governor has given me all the backing to see how all these tourist and hospitality sites can be revived. The Prof. Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre has been abandoned for a long time. We are working on how to revive it by bringing the contractor back to site. There is a memo to that effect.”

However, she said there are some challenges: “We have security challenges. You cannot woo investors and they find out there is insecurity. People will not invest their money where there are problems and crises. We are working with government and security agencies to ensure insecurity is addressed so that tourists will be happy to visit the state and its recreational sites. Last year, we were able to organize a Christmas Carnival, so that people will know that there is peace in the state. We also had an e-tourism conference recently, where the whole world will see that Plateau is safe. These are some of the things we are portraying and stakeholders need to do more on security.

“Another challenge has to do with land encroachment. Investors into the state are complaining of encroachment and insecurity in the area. If we do not address that, they wouldn’t be able to take over. We have made arrangements therefore to make sure all the issues are addressed. We do periodic meetings with our tourism stakeholders like hoteliers, to advise and sensitise them on how things should improve in the hospitality industry. We also sensitise our local people on security and other issues.”

Hon. Hajiya Tukur also identified some common problems Plateau women face these days to include social ills among youths. “Sadly, these are our children and many homes are broken as a result of this. We cannot allow our children to be used as thugs for crimes, crises, cultism, and other negative vices. Women are homemakers and all our efforts should be on families and children. Youth should be advised to avoid social ills because if a house does not stand, the woman is usually blamed. I encourage women to encourage their children, and spearhead peace in their homes.

“Inactive participation of women in politics is another challenge. Women do not like coming out. I am a politician and I got married to my husband who is also a politician that put me through on ways to gain more political experience and relevance. I am encouraging women to actively participate in politics to enable us get recognition and a place in government. I had never imagined becoming a commissioner one day, but when the politicians saw my commitment in politics, I was considered for the position. Don’t be deterred by the intimidation and name-calling by men to discourage us from participating in politics. Most times, you hear them calling women prostitutes,” Tukur said.

Barr. Olivia Dazyam, Acting Chairperson, Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities (GEO) Commission, and Special Adviser to Plateau State Governor on Gender

She is a gender activist, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social development, former Commissioner for Information and Communication, former Commissioner for Justice, and Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Jonah David Jang, among other numerous positions she has held.

She explained that the Commission focuses on promotion and protection of the rights of Plateau people. “The GEO Commission has set out so vigorously, to create awareness concerning the existence of these rights, and also in order to give opportunities for people who have rights violations to come up to the Commission and complain. So far, the commission is receiving a lot of complaints. Under the law, there is requirement to set up a mediation centre in the office, and we are also expected to set up same structure in the different LGAs to give opportunities for settling family feuds, misunderstandings, or some rights infringements that can be settled through mediation and reconciliation.

“So far, we have been receiving a lot of complaints from both men and women. The mediation centre is giving opportunities for such complaints to be given attention. This is an opportunity that has been given to people of Plateau State not to take the laws into their hands. When you have misunderstandings, it is better to ventilate the challenges through dialogue, mediation or reconciliation, so that we can have a better society.”

According to Dazyem, the Commission has achieved many feats in its one year in office. “For us as a commission, the first thing that we will celebrate is our coming on board with take-off support, to be able to set up the commission, under this administration. Immediately we came in, we set out to train staff on capacity building, partnered with an international organization, GIZ, to give opportunity for capacity building of our staff on mediation.

“Apart from that, we have partnered with different Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and had a dialogue on women’s land and property rights in the state. That dialogue came up with some resolutions that are being attended to now. We had in attendance the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning. Issues that came out from that dialogue were enriching for Plateau State, because the participants for that engagement were picked from all the 17 Local Government Areas. When we talk about land and property rights of women, you know that these are issues that you cannot talk about quickly. Cultural norms say a woman should not own property, or should not inherit from her father or her parents, or even as a widow, you cannot inherit. Inheritance rights were also richly canvassed at that engagement. Apart from that, we have also created opportunities for engagements and interactions with Civil Society Organizations in the state, and it was robust. Recently, we also engaged with heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and sought for collaboration.

“We have an expectation that issues of gender should be mainstreamed in all aspects of public and private life in the state, so that when governments are taking decisions on issues of development, they should factor in the interest of everyone. By so doing, nobody will be left out when government agencies come up with implementation. For example, if the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing programmes, it shouldn’t leave men, women, young people behind, because they will also bring out their own potentials in agriculture for the development of our state. We had an engagement with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) that has been working in Plateau State in the area of peace building.

“Our main challenge in applying the rights, especially as they apply to women, is the culture of silence. Their rights are abused, sometimes violently, and they would keep quiet about it. That has been our problem. Sexual and gender-based violations perpetrated are taken back to the community, family level to be settled. We agree that there are some misunderstandings that actually can be settled on the mediation table; like the law says we should have a mediation centre, but we shouldn’t tolerate violence at any level. Once the question of violence comes up, physical or psychological, we must attend to it and treat it as a crime because the law accords it and treats it as violence.

“One other thing that is causing problems for us in the state is abandonment of spousal and parental responsibilities. The law expects the woman to play her role, while the man does his. We both must be prepared, that’s why in GEO Commission, we advocate for gender equality, equity and justice. Meaning that as government or private organisations, we must give ourselves equal opportunity for everyone to acquire education, some form of skills, and give him or her the opportunity to participate in development.

“There is the annoying part that believes once a woman is at the helm of affairs, she cannot achieve. A woman is greatly endowed as the man. In fact, in most cases, she is more greatly endowed. So if given the opportunity, a woman can do far more than the man.

“Finding the opportunity to participate in leadership is cultural patriarchy, which says a woman should not be leader. Such cultural and patriarchal practices have affected us so much in the political arena. We seek leadership through political participation in most cases, and if you don’t find a political platform, you may not be able to find opportunity for election or an elective or appointive position.

“Thank God for our sisters who are doing so well in government and in Civil Service, by virtue of promotions. They are likely to rise to the top, but for political participation where you have opportunities for elections and appointments, you will hardly find women because culture has traumatised us so much to the extent that the woman who comes out to participate in politics is called a prostitute, and it is so sad to note that a woman cannot prostitute alone, so once there is a female prostitute, certainly there must be a male prostitute.

“It takes two to tango but they use this against women, to bring them down. So you see, they scare away a woman who comes out to participate in politics because she wants to bring her talent or potentials to bear in the development of her state or local government area, and sadly she gives in.

“What I would always say is this: women should not be scared by cultural inhibitions and what the men say about them. Sometimes as women, we call fellow women prostitutes. Women who really want to contribute to the development of their state and nation must shun some of these things and ignore them. They should have a focus, stay on course, and before you know it, you will find opportunity for participation. Ignore any name calling. It is the person calling you names that has a problem, just stay on course, by and by, you will find the right opportunity so that you can contribute your own quota to the development of our society.”

Being a new office, which she is setting up as the pioneer chairperson, Barr. Dazyem said the process is ongoing, but not free of challenges.  “Some of my challenges are staffing, need for continuous training of specialized staff to run the Commission, and funding”, she recapped.