1st Year Performance Report of Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Member, House of Representatives

Senatorial District: Ekiti Central

Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Position: Chairperson, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment Brief Profile: Fatimat Raji Rasaki was born into the renowned political family of Late Chief M.A. Obayemi on Jan. 1, 1957. She began her elementary education at Saint Andrews Primary School, Oke Ila and completed in 1969 at the famous All Saints Primary School, Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State. She obtained her West African Examination Certificate in 1973 at Doherty Memorial Grammar School, Ijero, Ekiti. The young Fatimat as she then was, proceeded to the University of Lagos, Akoka to study law. This is the background that prepared Fatimat to become a social crusader, grass root politician, seasoned lawyer and a firm believer in the principle of equity and fair play. Her career life includes working span at Femi Falana Chambers in Lagos before she set up her own law firm – Fatimat Rasaki & Co, where she served as the Principal Partner. Her official profile details that “as a catalyst of social change, she used her law firm to champion the need for politicians to be accountable to the electorates and use their political offices to improve the welfare of their citizens. She equally upholds the ideology that leadership is an opportunity to make sacrifices for the good of the common man and not an avenue for personal aggrandizement. These views propelled her into numerous humanitarian services.” Fatimat Raji Rasaki was First Lady of Ogun and Lagos States respectively during which time she used her office to cater for the needs of the rural women through late Maryam Babangida’s Better Life for Rural Women pet project. Specifically, between 1986 and 1987, she was the Chairperson, Better Life for Rural Women, ; and from 1987 to 1993 she served in same capacity for . Her public and humanitarian service record also includes the following: South West Co- coordinator, Rural Women; Zonal Co-coordinator, Officers Wives, Ikeja; Matron, National Council for Women Society; Matron, Lagos State Farmers Association; Life Member, Lioness Club; Life Member, Nigerian Girls Guide and many others. She hit her first political break in 2007 when she contested and won election into the House of Representatives to represent the Ado and Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Areas of Ekiti State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Fatimat Raji Rasaki served as Deputy Chair of the House Committee on Women Affairs in which capacity she participated in the Women Conference held in Cairo, Egypt in 2007. Her official profile describes her stay in the House as vibrant, saying “in her 4 years in the green chamber, she actively participated in many local and international programmes where she promoted the cause she believes so much in -- Making a positive difference in the lives of her people.” In 2015, she contested and won election as Senator of the Federal Republic of . This Distinguished Senator is a recipient of several recognitions, honours and awards, including: Award of Excellence by the University of Ado Ekiti Students’ Union; Leadership Award by the Better Life for African Women; Leadership Award by the National Council of Women Societies; Platinum Award by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); Excellence Leadership Gold Award by the Law Society, University of Ado Ekiti; Ekiti State; Recognition of Excellence by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ekiti Council; and Gold Award by the Law Society. She is also member of Governing Council at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki is happily married to General Raji Rasaki (rtd) and they are blessed with children.

Legislative Accomplishments:

MOTIONS:

*Sexual exploitation, prostitution and its impact on gender equality

*Imperative of recognizing and respecting the “right of the elderly to lead a life of dignity and independence and to participate in social and cultural life.‘

BILLS:

•Nigeria Industrial Development and Zones Commission

•National Measurements Office (undergoing scrutiny)

COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION:

•Chairman Senate committee on Trade and Investments

•Member, Adhoc committee on Power

•Member, Committees on Aviation; Banking, Insurance and Other Financial institution; Interior; Women Affairs.

•The Aviation committee, currently probing the Airline Industry Intervention Fund, working on the legislative technicalities of the National Carrier. *The Committee on Trade and Investment is currently working on the following:

-Public hearing on the Consumer Protection Probe on DSTV in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Information and Culture.

-Working on the public hearing and report writing on Counterfeit Goods Bill SB 117

- Reviewing the WTO agreements to enable the National assembly to domesticate these treaties to enhance trade.

-Currently working on establishing the National Assembly Policy on trade and investment to act as baseline for the Executive when engaging in Multi-lateral and Bi-Lateral trade negotiations

Constituency accomplishments:

 Currently running an innovative SMART empowerment programme that targets empowerment initiatives to specific end-users.  SMART reaches out to the masses cutting across Gender and party lines, using the CDC (Community Development Committee) model to act as a liaison between the Senator and the people and also to formulate the needs input of the programme.  The CDC comprises of the paramount ruler as the chairman; representatives of the religious communities (CAN, Chief Imam etc); two prominent members of the community; representative of the political class; and an independent secretary.  Inputs generated by the CDC go into constituency projects bank and request for federal presence in the senatorial district.  Empowerment programme with Bank of Industry (BOI) which trained just under 3000 people and provided micro finance loans to well over 1000 people in April 2016. There is now a yearly commitment for this programme and an establishment of a State BOI Office for Ekiti.  Currently running a similar programme with BOA (Bank of Agriculture).

Govt Must Go Beyond Talk to Diversify the Economy - Raji Rasaki

Distinguished Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki represents Ekiti Central in the Senate and Chairs the Committee on Trade and Investment. In this Special #NASSReportCard interview with the ORDERPAPER Team, she speaks of her plans and achievements for the people of her senatorial district as well as snippets of her legislative contributions in the first 365 days of the 8th Assembly. Excerpts:

You have been in the public eye for decades; from former first lady to political activism and now Senator. How have you been able to combine the demands of public life with your private family life?

Thank you very much. First of all I have to give thanks to God Almighty for taking me thus far. Public life for me started when I was First Lady in Ogun and Lagos States when my husband was Military Governor. I learnt a lot during that period. As wife of the governor, I was also the chairperson of Better Life for Rural Women, a programme then initiated by our dear mentor, wife of the then Military Head of State, Maryam Babangida of blessed memory. That gave me an opportunity to meet different kinds of people from diverse religious backgrounds and all sorts. I was able to learn a lot and that actually brought me out into the public eye because we had to go to different places especially the rural areas to know what they actually wanted because we believed that nobody remembered them and they did not have the opportunity to come into the cities. Most of them were farmers and majority of the women were the bread winners of their families; they were up and doing but no opportunities; nobody to showcase them. So the programme offered the opportunity for them to come out, be recognized and exhibit their talents in industry through trade fairs. We had an international trade fair in Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos; “I relate with my constituents all that was where we started. Being the chairperson in Ogun the time by attending occasions going on in the communities; State then, I had to lead the women to the fair and raising funds to build and develop subsequently to Abuja for other programmes. So since then, I the communities; and all of that. I have been motivated by the mindset of how to help the have always been around to women further; let them know they are not alone and contribute my quota to their development.” abandoned and that there are people that share their problems. I have done this for many years after leaving office as First Lady. And now, I am back to public office as Senator. So to answer your question, there are really no challenges combining public and private life together. Being a mother, a grand-mother and a wife, I don’t really have much challenges but I thank God my children are grown and on their own. My husband also has been very supportive, so I don’t really have any extra-ordinary challenges in my position as a politician, mother, grand-mother and wife.

How do you relate with the Ekiti people, especially your constituents most of whom are known to be very educated and critical of public officials? Is this a challenge for you?

It is not really a challenge because I am always in touch with my constituents right from the onset of my public life like I have just told you. I relate with them all the time by attending occasions going on in the communities; raising funds to build and develop the communities; and all of that. I have always been around to contribute my quota to their development. So when I got into politics, the people already know me and what I can do. They believe in me and I don’t have any problem since I have never disappointed them.

When the Gender Equality Bill was thrown out of the Senate initially before it was recently reintroduced again, how did you feel as a woman, mother and wife, especially one who has been involved in gender advocacy?

We still have a long way to go. I say that because politics is a game of numbers. We (women) in the Senate need numbers and unfortunately, we don’t have that number. That Bill contained liberating provisions for women and even children but we understand there are some men who are still very traditional in inclinations; that wives have less rights and all that. Our culture too also makes these things very difficult. But even when some male senators supported the Bill we still did not have the numbers for it to sail through. Of course we felt very bad that day the Bill was killed because we felt our male colleagues should understand that there should be changes but we felt surprised and even embarrassed that some of them spoke against the Bill. So I was not happy that day, although I must say that the Senate President is very gender-sensitive and likes to put women in positions of responsibility and challenges us to express our capacities and we appreciate that.

What would you consider as highlights of the 8th Senate in the last one year?

Well, let me say we have had a Senate that is made of intelligent and knowledgeable members. And because they are more elderly this has impacted on the way we do things in the Senate compared with the House of Representatives. We have more mature members and encourage interactions among ourselves freely and share experiences. And you know we are just starting; just a year old although I hope that we would improve on our understanding and way of doing things so that at the end of our tenure, we can go home with memorable experiences.

What would you say your constituents consider that make them express satisfaction with your representation so far in the Senate and what are your goasl going forward?

First of all my, intention of going into politics is to help the people, especially the women and champion their cause and lift them up. I have been able to contribute my own quota in the senate by speaking for them during debates to protect and promote their interests. In the constituency, I have set up Community Development Committees (CDC) where traditional rulers in the localities are chairpersons and comprising other community leaders, religious leaders, political leaders. The purpose of the CDCs is to brainstorm on needs assessment and tell me what areas they require interventions. From their recommendations, there are projects and programmes which I have now outlined to undertake one after the other because their welfare to me is paramount. In this Ramadan season for instance, I was able to make some goodies available like I did during Christmas. I did that in all five local governments and wards that make up the district. I gave them clothing materials, food items and cash. I have outlined scholarship programmes up to secondary school level where at least 20 students per local government will benefit and then bursary scheme for university students. And of course it would include payment of WAEC and NECO fees. I also have plans for the aged; to set up mobile clinics to check their blood sugar, BP, eyesight. I also have plans for the widows in terms of small scale business empowerment to assist their families. There is also a programme for farmers: right there in the constituency there are tractors for them almost free of charge. They will only pay for fuel and operator charges. This is just to assist them. I also have plans for the youths but the idea is to identify needs as matched with vocations and skills so we don’t give carpentry implements to an electrician and stuff like that. And those of them that have nothing doing at all, we have arranged for training in agriculture areas like snail farming and growing of mushrooms; unique products that can be easily sold to other states to make money. We also have plans for the market women because they are more in number in every society. We would arrange for loans from BOI (Bank of Industry). The bank officials have made preliminary visits to enlighten the people and provide forms for enlistment. The teachers are also not left out as I have a computer literacy programme coming up at the end of which we will give them laptops so they can be connected to the modern world. Local government workers will also not be left out because during my campaign, they requested for boreholes and we are in touch. We relate regularly because they are my people and I quite appreciate them and I cannot afford to fail them. So there are quite a number of programmes coming up on a yearly basis.

What is the focus of your committee in the Senate?

If we are trying to diversify the economy, your actions should speak louder than words. I think the government is not doing enough now; they are yet to delve into other sectors. I expect the Executive and the National Assembly to be working together on this issue. For instance you see the President going with ministers on important economic trips without members of the National Assembly. The National Assembly should also be involved so that when agreements are signed with countries it would not be strange when they are brought to Parliament for ratification as may be required. But as the Trade and Investment Committee of the Senate, we are trying our best through oversight functions to see things for ourselves and revert to Senate so that if there are things that need to be done to make the economy better, we work towards them. For instance around September/October we plan to do a summit of public institutions related to trade and investments- to bring them together to find practical ways of diversifying the economy beyond words of “The Senate President mouth. The outcome of the summit can be an action plan for the (Saraki) is very gender- sensitive and likes to put government. My Bill on Nigeria Industrial Development and Zones women in positions of Commission now undergoing legislative processing in the Senate responsibility and challenges is also an attempt to create improved economic conditions by us to express our capacities seeking to properly regulate the Free Trade Zones in the country and we appreciate that.” for optimal performance.

How do you relax and take time out for leisure?

I like travelling. And most importantly, I like it when my grandchildren come around and play with me. It gives me joy and through that I get relaxed.

FEEDBACK: OrderPaper.ng encourages feedback on this Special #NASSReportCard publication. If you are from Fatimat Raji Rasaki’s Senatorial District or just a reader with comments and questions for the Senator, kindly send an email to [email protected] and we would be glad to pass on your message and revert if need be.