Gender Bills: Crucial for Women Empowerment

Women’s underrepresentation in decision-making remains as a stark reality, according to UN    Women’s global data on Women Political Leaders 2024.

The underrepresentation of Nigerian women in governance and politics has been a longstanding issue in political discourse.

Currently, women occupy only a small fraction of the seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly, with 3 out of 109 senators and 15 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives being female while, there are five appointed women ministers out of 45. Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria is yet to have a female president.

On the 9th of July the House of Representatives advanced a bill to its second reading, aiming to create 74 seats for women in the National Assembly.

The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 others, proposes amendments to Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to establish “Special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

The news stirred mixed emotions as the 9th National Assembly dismissed all 5 gender bills, leaving women perplexed about the obstacles they face in achieving equal representation to contribute their share to national development, akin to their male counterparts.

The five gender bills rejected, include provisions such as special seats for women in the National Assembly, 35% affirmative action for women in political party administration, granting citizenship to foreign-born husbands of a Nigerian woman

The other two bills are a bill that indigent married women should have a choice on state of origin and last bill seeks inclusion of at least 10% affirmative action in favour of women in ministerial appointments.

                        Women presently occupying ministerial appointments in Nigeria

Meanwhile, UN Women recently, reported that 113 countries have never had a female Head of State, while currently only 26 countries are led by women.

Further explaining that “only 23 percent of ministerial positions are held by women and in 141 countries women make up less than a third of Cabinet ministers. Seven countries have no women represented in their Cabinets at all as of January 1, 2024,

“As many countries head to the polls this year, we all must put women first, at the pinnacle of power, where and when it matters the most,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

She said, “women are also underrepresented as permanent representatives to the UN and stressed on women’s equal participation in governance and leadership, saying is key to improving lives for all,”

    Countries with women in highest position of state as of May 2024. UN WOMEN DATA

Legal Framework

Women rights groups have argued that the legal framework governing political participation in Nigeria, including the amended 1999 Constitution and the Repealed and Re-enacted Electoral Act 2022, ensures equal voting and candidacy rights for women and men, but it lacks specific provisions to promote women’s political participation and representation.

Reactions from Women Activists

Reacting to the House of Representatives’ passage of a bill for a second reading aimed at amending the constitution to create 74 legislative seats for women, an activist Professor Joy Ezeilo expressed her disappointment. She remarked that, despite her success in drafting gender policies for other countries—policies that have been successfully implemented—the situation at home remains discouragingly different.

“If you look at 55 countries in Africa, Nigeria is lagging giving our role. Why is it that we are lagging behind? even in West Africa countries have taken affirmative action. Affirmative action is not discriminatory. you can’t have a constitution without women. In 2001-2003 I was part of those who drafted Rwanda’s constitution and have those clauses, today we have 50 percent.

Professor Ezeilo advocated the consideration of federal character to ensure women’s participation, as well as the inclusion of all groups, including youths and people with disabilities. She stressed that no one should be left behind and emphasized that everyone counts in governance, similar to their importance during elections. She urged the 10th Assembly to correct the rejection of the five gender bills.

“women’s voices have never counted in Nigerian legislation due to a discriminatory constitution, the language needs to change”, she added.

Professor Joy Ezeilo, Former UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children (2008- 2014) Photo: Joy Ezeilo/Twitter

Mrs. Ebere Ifendu, President of Women in Politics, praised Deputy Speaker Mr. Benjamin Kalu for leading the reintroduction of the gender bill, particularly with the inclusion of special seats provisions. However, she noted that a coalition of women’s groups had initially submitted 111 requests to the National Assembly and plans to strategize to ensure their demands are met.

Ifendu further stated, we are below the gender policy; we are below every convention you can think of. If there is a law like the political parties, they will go out of their way to look for women to occupy these seats. constitution amendment is important, the language of the constitution also need to change.

Another activist and former Country Director of Action Aid, Mrs. Ene Obi, emphasized the importance of improving women’s representation in Nigeria. She noted that women are often absent from discussions and decision-making processes, which is crucial because those who experience the issues firsthand understand them best.

Obi stressed the need for more women to contribute to the country’s development, stating that women’s voices are essential for quality progress, especially when major decisions are made in boardrooms.

Ambassador, Ojineme Enakeme, the National Youth Chair League of Women Voters in Nigeria, noted that we might not be where we are but there is a slight involvement of women in politics especially at the grassroots and expressed optimism that it will soon be physical at national levels but called on women politicians to always support one another and also groom the younger ones to the political space

“We are seeing women at the grassroot joining ward Exco’s in policy making, joining a lot of these groups to make their voices heard” it might not be a big result at the National level yet .

Visually impaired women holding placards with various messages during a rally in Abuja, advocating for their inclusion in governance. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman/Radio Nigeria

Mrs. Lois Auta, Executive Director of the Cedar Seed Foundation, expressed concern over the widespread discrimination against women with disabilities in politics and decision-making processes in the country. She called for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in governance to address the challenges faced by disability communities.

“What we really want to see is becoming decision makers, how is it possible that a quota system is reserved just like women are asking for 35 percent, women with disabilities should also ask for 5 or 10 percent. We can start making things right, in that position if certain percentage are kept for rights of women with disabilities who are always excluded from political activities”, she said.

Call to Action

It is crucial that the 10th National Assembly considers the five gender bills now, as the review of the nation’s constitution is ongoing. This inclusive approach aims to meet the aspirations of all Nigerians, ensuring no one is left behind in the pursuit of SDG Goal 5.

Also, promoting women’s active involvement in decision-making not only benefits women but also contributes significantly to national development. Therefore, ensuring women have special legislative seats is essential for achieving balanced representation in government, reflecting the diversity of the population.

When women are involved, diverse perspectives in policymaking emerge, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions, as they bring different experiences and insights to the table. Gender bills can address historical inequalities and discrimination, promoting fairness and justice in society.

Likewise, increasing women’s participation in the workforce and leadership positions can boost economic growth, as studies show that gender diversity enhances organizational performance. Such bills also encourage better governance, as more inclusive, transparent, and accountable systems are developed.

Importantly, gender bills affirm the importance of human rights and gender equality, aligning with international conventions and commitments.

Writing by Hadiza Abdulrahman; editing by Annabel Nwachukwu