Troubling.
Despite pledging a commitment to gender inclusivity, President Bola Tinubu signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill into law on Friday without a single female government official present at the ceremony.
The signing, which took place at the State House in Abuja, saw the president flanked by an all-male delegation, raising questions about the representation of women in key national affairs.
Among those present were House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Finance Minister Wale Edun, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, all standing to the president’s left. To his right were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Solomon Adeola, and Budget and Economic Planning Minister Abubakar Bagudu. Also in attendance was Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
The absence of notable female cabinet members, such as Industry, Trade, and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite, and FCT Minister of State Mariya Mahmoud, has sparked criticism.
Observers argue that their exclusion from a significant national event contradicts the administration’s stated goal of promoting gender balance in governance.
Tinubu’s signing of the budget represents a 99.96% increase from the previous year’s N27.5 trillion allocation, reflecting ambitious fiscal policies aimed at addressing economic challenges.
However, the optics of the event have drawn attention to broader concerns about female participation in the highest levels of decision-making.
