Laraba MUREY
Nigeria federal law makers have been asked to reconsider the affirmative action bill and other gender bills proposed in the
constitution amendment, in order to improve women participation in politics.
Recall that the National Assembly, Tuesday last week, threw out a bill providing for 35% affirmative action for women in political parties’ Administration.
The law makers also rejected the ‘Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters.’
The National President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala, described the rejection of the five gender bills that speak to the issues against women discrimation and exclusion from involvement in governance and contribution to nation building
as not only shameful and retroggresive, but a huge tragedy in the development.
Bala, in her message to Nigerian women on occasion of the 2022 International Women’s Day, noted that this year’s celebration would have been one of the best to be celebrated by not just women in Nigeria but development partners as well as gender activists, if the hope of the constitution amendment on gender bills had not been dashed by the National Assembly.
“In fact, history would have been made by the 9th Assembly as the legislature that allowed the true definition of democracy to take it roots in Nigeria, but the members chose the path of exclusion and discriminatory agenda against Nigerian women and girls.”
The NAWOJ President therefore called on Nigerian women to rise and demand from their representatives the fulfilment of the social contract of effective representation they signed, stressing that until the Gender bills are reconsidered and passed into law, Nigeria cannot be seen or considered to be a full democratic nation.
According to her, “No nation that excludes more than 50 percent of a segment of its demography can develop as expected. It is therefore pertinent to appeal to members of the federal legilature to as a matter of urgency, necessity and in the interest of the spirit and letters of democracy to discard their earlier posture and allow for the Gender bills to be re-represented and passed into law.”
She equally noted that “the fight towards ensuring that Nigeria corrects the wrongs requires the support of patriotic men who believe in a better Nigeria.
“Attaining Gender Equality Today for a sustainable Tomorrow which is the theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day, will remain an Illusion in Nigeria except a pragmatic approach towards attaining and balancing Gender related issues in the country is adopted and respected by all.”
