The ploy to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive List seems dead on arrival with critical stakeholders promising to ensure it does not see the light, writes TONY AKOWE

The minimum wage is as old as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which was founded in 1919. The 1919 ILO Constitution, in its preamble, notes the importance of “the provision of an adequate living wage”. In its 1944 Philadelphia Declaration, the ILO called for “a minimum living wage to all employed and in need of such protection”. The declaration states that one of the objectives of the ILO was to ensure that member states put in place “policies in regard to wages and earnings, hours and other conditions of work calculated to ensure a just share of the fruits of progress to all, and a minimum living wage to all employed and in need of such protection”.

Also, the ILO Convention 26 of 1928 put in place mechanism for fixing minimum wage by countries of the world. In Nigeria, the minimum wage has been in force since June 16, 1961. According to the ILO website, Nigeria remains one of the countries in Africa yet to ratify the ILO convention on Minimum Wage. African countries that have ratified the convention are Zambia, Niger, Morocco, Libya, Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Conversely, countries like Germany, Russia, Switzerland (where the ILO headquarters is located), Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, United States of America (often used as example of countries where states decide their minimum wage), Canada and China among others have not signed or ratify the convention. But nearly all European countries have a fixed minimum wage pattern. Available records on the ILO website revealed that about 98 percent of the countries in the Americas and about 90 percent of African countries have a fixed national minimum wage.

One of the recommendations of participants at the 2014 National Conference put together by former President Goodluck Jonathan was that “the National Minimum Wage, as currently provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 should remain on the Exclusive Legislative List, while all stakeholders, including state governments should avail themselves of the tripartite framework for determining the minimum wage to ensure ownership and acceptability”. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba said the minimum wage in the United states of America was increased by former President Barrack Obama from 10 to 15 dollars per hour, while states are allowed to peg what they pay which must not be below the national minimum of 15 dollars per hour. He also argued that President Joe Biden has promised to increase the template from the current minimum and wonder why Nigeria will seek to take that right away from Nigerian workers.

While debate on the minimum wage in Nigeria has often centred around the ability of states and Federal Government to decide what they can pay to their workers, not many has given recognition to workers in the private sector as possible beneficiaries of the minimum wage. Labour has often argued that if states are allowed to legislate on the minimum wage, who will legislate for workers in the private sector? This explains why the issue of minimum wage has be retained in the exclusive list over the years. Those who want the issue removed from the exclusive list believe that state chapters of the NLC and TUC should be allowed to negotiate with their state government on what they can pay. But labour has argued that there was nothing compelling states to pay the same wages with the federal government. They argued that the idea of a minimum wage is to set the template on which no state should go below, but can pay above. Labour argued that while some states were paying N18,000 as minimum wage, the Edo state government under former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and current governor, Godwin Obaseki were paying N25,000 as minimum wage. Labour leaders have also argued that if states prioritise what projects they embarked upon, they will be in a position to pay. Many states, they argued have often embarked upon what they described as white elephant projects and projects that are not economically viable to the state. They question the rationale behind states like Nasarawa who are complaining of lean resources building a cargo airport when they have three airports in Abuja, Makurdi and Jos surrounding them, with two of them under-utilised.

But the sponsor of the bill to delist minimum wage from the exclusive list, Garba Mohamed Datti, believes that the issue of minimum wage should not be a federal legislation only, but that states should also be allowed to legislate on the issue and decide what they can pay to their workers. But he is not conscious of the argument of organized labour that if wages of political office holders can be fixed centrally by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission without the process of collective bargaining, there was no reason to allow states decide what they will pay to workers. Many however believe that if the legislation is allowed, it will defeat the very essence of the ILO convention on minimum wage for workers, which provides a benchmark for the lowest wages to be paid to every worker, both in public and private sector.

Justifying why states should be allowed to legislate on what they can pay to their workers, Datti Mohammed admitted the issue of the minimum wage and attempt to situate it properly has always been controversial, many states have not been able to implement the national minimum wage because it was imposed on them from Abuja. He argued that the agreement to pay N18,000 as minimum met with vehement opposition by many of the states who insisted they did not have the resources to pay, adding that “while some of them had not been paying, the national minimum wage was raised to N30,000 again with many states vehemently opposing it”. He insisted that there was no propriety in the Federal Government imposing a national minimum wage when the resources available to the Federal Government are at variance with those available to the states or each state.

To him, “the resources available to the states also differ and while some states may be able to afford the national minimum wage, others may not. Within the states, the resources available to the local government councils also vary but they are also subjected to the national minimum wage. The governor of Ebonyi State alleged that the local governments would need to borrow N1 billion to service salaries while some states allege that they would spend 100% of their earnings to pay salaries. He believes that several socioeconomic variables can be advanced for why the states should be allowed to legislate their own wages. He said “these are usually the factors that determine what is appropriate as minimum wage. In the United States, minimum wage is a concurrent subject matter such that in 2018, the minimum wage in 29 states was actually higher than the federal minimum wage. This scenario is also not unlikely in Nigeria as certain states appear to have the capacity to surpass the federal minimum wage”.

He has supporters in some of his colleagues, Nkem Abonta (PDP, Abia), the bill was very progressive and forward looking, describing it as one of the finest bill in the House, while Hon. Fred Agbedi argued that states should be allowed to fix their own wages because the federal law has not been obeyed by several states. Agbedi believe that once the issue is transferred to the concurrent list, states will pay their workers’ wages commensurate to their resources. Both Abonta and Agbedi said in an era when Nigerians are canvassing for devolution of power, it will not be ideal to allow the federal government to continue to legislate for the states on the issue of minimum wage. Hon. Babajimi Benson also believe that the bill when passed will bring freedom to the states to determine wages for their workers, adding that workers in Lagos should not be earning the same wages with those in Zamfara since both states don’t have the same amount of resources. Hon. Sada Soli described the bill as progressive, dynamic and contemporary in nature, adding that every jurisdiction should be allowed to determine what they can pay as wages, adding that doing so will strengthen the economies of the states and promote peaceful coexistence. Hon. Ben Mzondu said the only way to build an egalitarian society was to allow the legislation to pass, pointing out most states spend the resources available to them to pay wages, adding that it will be out of place to describe the bill as anti-people.

But Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, is not comfortable with the bill describing it as anti-workers. The Deputy Speaker said states should not allowed to determine the minimum wage as most states will take advantage of the situation to pay the workers’ wages that will not take care of their interest. He based his argument on the constitutional provision that the welfare of the people is the responsibility of government adding that even when the states have the resources to pay, many states have resorted not to pay workers’ wages due to them. Wase’s argument is backed by Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano), himself a former labour leader who dismissed the argument that many states in the country cannot afford to pay the current minimum wage. He said the inability of states to pay is not as a result of lack of resources, but because the states have refused to prioritise. Suleiman who expressed shocked at the volume of support the bill was getting from members said it the states have not been progressive minded and embarks on what he described as white elephant projects which are capital intensive and often abandoned. He maintained that the idea of a national minimum wage is to set parameter for states to negotiate with their workers. He said “if we pass this law, we will be giving states the latitude to whatever they want. We should have the security of the workers at heart”.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, said: “If we pass this bill, we will one day bring another bill to set it aside because the states will abuse it.”

The passage of the bill for second reading led workers to take to the streets across the country in protest. They cast aspersion on the sponsor of the bill, calling him unprintable names. Posters have been posted across Abuja and Kaduna and some major cities of the country describing him as a dishonourable member. One of the posters reads “the evil man against Nigeria workers. He is sponsoring a bill to remove minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list. He was hired by Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna state for this evil job.” It also said “Garba Datti: the dirty man says Nigeria workers wage is too much while the wage in the House of Reps is too small”. Another one reads: “Enemy of Nigeria Workers. Dirty man for dirty jobs, he wants minimum wage removed from the exclusive legislative list. He says workers don’t deserve a national minimum wage”.

While presenting their protest letter to the National Assembly, Wabba accused nine governors across the country as major sponsors of the bill because they have refused to pay the N30,000 minimum wage to workers in their state. Wabba said the bill was not acceptable to both workers and the Nigerian people.

He said: “The issue of National Minimum Wage is a standard set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the first agency of the United Nations (UN). So we have the powers of the UN. The National Minimum Wage is not a Nigerian standard. It is an international standard. Their argument is that because they want federalism, they want the issue of the National Minimum Wage to be removed to the Concurrent List. That is false. In the countries of the world, we have 26 federal nations that have minimum wage in their Exclusive List, including the United States. As I speak to you, the minimum wage of America is $10 per hour. President Joe Biden came in and the first statement he made was that he is going to review the national minimum wage.”

They got some assurances from the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that justice is done. While House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa told them to begin an advocacy and lobby lawmakers ahead of the public hearing on the bill, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Abdullahi Sahabi said since the circumstances that led to the National Assembly killing a similar bill during the 8th Assembly has not changed, the Senate will ensure that the bill does not succeed.

“I want to say very clearly that in the past, we have stood toe-to-toe with Nigerian workers. There is nothing that suggests we are changing from that direction. Rather, we will stand by you to ensure that the fundamental right of every worker is not only enforced, but ensured and guaranteed. I want to guarantee you that you should not go home having any fear. Go home and sleep with your eyes closed. We are going to ensure that we do justice to the message you have brought to us. Action speaks louder that voice. Wait to see the action. I want to assure you that our colleagues will receive this message in full measure without any subtraction or addition.

On his part, Doguwa told the workers that the only justice that can be done to the bill was to kill it. He told that “We are your employees. By implication, we have no reason whatsoever to shy away from the interests and yearnings of Nigerian workers. When you are happy, we are happy. From what I am seeing now, it is clear that organised Labour is against that bill. We will still invite you to engage with the relevant committees.”

From provision of befitting accommodation/office spaces, to shoreline protection facilities, the Nigerian Navy is gradually phasing out years of decrepit infrastructure, writes PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU.

Until Saturday, March 6, the Nigerian Navy’s (NN) Underwater Warfare School in Ojo, Lagos, faced the danger of erosion. By virtue of its location, the school facilities suffered greatly from high ocean tides which usually saw water overflowing its banks, thus, washing away the shorelines. Moreover, it was practically impossible for ships to berth there since the 40-year-old 80-metre jetty there had collapsed beyond repair with stand-alone woods and iron bars posing further danger to mariners and divers.

Concerned about the state of the jetty and the devastation that would occur at the Navy Town if unresolved, the Federal Government, through the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) intervened upon several requests from the navy, a move that has allayed fears of heavy flooding in the community.

Like the Underwater School, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Apapa, the navy’s premiere base, for decade suffered the same fate. Theirs was so bad that there were visible cracks on the concrete, making it impossible for ships to move in and out of harbour. It also posed huge risk to personnel as one could easily slip into the lagoon.

These worries were also laid to rest by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, who in spite of dwindling resources, prioritised the need for a standard jetty and shoreline protection facilities at the base which were completed and unveiled last year.

Similarly, the Central Naval Command (CNC), last month commissioned a newly built Pontoon and Shore Protection Wall at Naval Outpost, Koluama II, Bayelsa State, to boost the service’s efforts in stamping out crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in that axis. The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) headquartered in Rivers State was not left out as the jetty at NN Shipyard Port Harcourt was also rebuilt and a floating dock provided.

Aside jetties and shoreline protection facilities, the government made resources available for the service to upgrade office spaces and accommodation for officers and men. From available statistics, a total of 3,638 units of accommodation were built and 1,613 others renovated across the country between 2015 and last December.

Also, the navy acquired 305 small ships and patrol boats, 14 houseboats, four barges/tugboat and 11 capital ships within the same period, all thanks to the government’s commitment to emplace a strong and well equipped naval force capable of discharging its constitutional duties.

Among the completed projects are hundreds of Compressed Earth Bricks buildings at Atimbo Barracks, Calabar, Kuje Barracks, Abuja, and NNS LUGARD in Lokoja; various units of accommodation for officers and ratings at Kubwa, Navy Town Asokoro-Abuja and Navy Town Ojo, Lagos; institutional houses for Commanders and Chief Boatswain Mates of operational commands; armouries, sports centres and worship centres at most Nigerian Navy bases, Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and Nigerian Navy schools.

Others include Naval Base in Lokoja and a-150-units barracks in Banda, Lokoja, Kogi State; an ultramodern Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar after 40 years of neglect; an Imaging Centre at Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Ojo, Lagos; upgraded Nigerian Navy hospitals in Warri and Port Harcourt, as well as a COVID-19 Treatment and Isolation Centre in Lagos to cater for NN personnel infected with the virus.

Minister of State for Health Olorunnimbe Mamora said he was positive such facilities would boost personnel capacity and stimulate aggressive drive to secure the country against criminality.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said the event was a milestone in the intervention efforts of the Ecological Fund Office at addressing ecological challenges across the country.

Admiral Gambo noted that the facilities would enhance NN maritime security operations, adding that the timely completion has stave off fears associated with shoreline erosion including the attendant risk of flooding to the entire landscape.

The CNS also appealed for more Ecological Fund Office’s intervention in other identified sites at NN bases and establishments like Escravos, Ibaka, Igbokoda, and Calabar jetty.

The Permanent Secretary (PS), Office of Ecological Fund, Dr. Habiba Lawal, said the government executed the project as a result of imminent danger posed by the devastating recurring erosion and flooding that have been threatening the lives and property of the communities

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja, Alao Abiodun, Tony Akowe, Adekunle Jimoh, Gbenga Omokhunu, Evelyn Osagie and Jide Orintunsin

Women take the centre stage on Monday all over the world. It was on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day. The consensus was: without women, the society is doomed.

President Muhammadu Buhari said any government that neglects women risks failure.

The President, in his International Women’s Day celebration message, described women as the bedrock of society.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari restated his administration’s commitment to addressing the multifarious challenges confronting women at various levels of the society.

“With seven female ministers, and two of them heading strategic Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning; and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in addition to scores more in charge of key parastatals and agencies, as well as serving as presidential aides, President Buhari applauds their contributions to the successes recorded by the administration,” the statement said.

Buhari added:  “I am proud of our women who have shown by dint of hard work and capacity that they can perform creditably if given the opportunity at home and on the global stage.”

First Lady Aisha Buhari marked the day lamenting the continuous mass abductions of women and girls.

Aisha, in a statement on her Twitter handle @aishambuhari, said: “As a mother, I share the sorrow and agony of the victims and families.

“I am also not unaware of the impact that these abductions could have in reverting many successes we have hitherto achieved, especially in terms of girl-child education and early marriages.”

She urged stakeholders to end mass abductions.

While appreciating the efforts of women and girls in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted that the pandemic has had a huge impact on women, disrupted education, careers and increase domestic violence.

ActionAid Nigeria calls for investment in public services, healthcare

ActionAid Nigeria, a social-justice Non-Government Organisation, has called on government at all levels to scale up investments in public services, including healthcare services.

Mrs Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday to commemorate the 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration.

Obi said the scaled up investments would help to reduce and redistribute women’s unpaid care and domestic work.

She said the commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day was a strong reminder of the unanticipated struggles of Nigerian women.

“As the country re-strategises to rise above this current situation, we call for the adoption of a care-centred approach which recognises that care and well-being are critical to sustaining societies, economies, and the environment.

“A care-centred approach also entails investing in gender-based violence prevention and response in all public and private spaces.

“Care needs to be valued, redistributed and should be integral to humanitarian preparedness and response policies, ” Obi said.

African first ladies make case for protection of women, girls against brutality

The African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) yesterday underscored the need to address brutality and conflict-related violence against the continent’s women and girls.

Dr Mairo Al-Makura, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on African First Ladies Peace Mission, emphasised the need to do so at a news conference in Abuja to mark International Women’s Day.

Al-Makura said that though women had always been instrumental to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the continent, they had always been victim of violence in the society.

“The African First Ladies Peace Mission celebrates African women and will continuously play a crucial role in furthering peace on the continent.

“We must not lose sight that gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental to the continent’s progress on peace, security, and rights.

“We recommit ourselves to advocate for the right to peace and protection for all women and girls across Africa,” she said.

LCCI President wants end to discrimination, assault against women, girls

Mrs Toki Mabogunje, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), says there is the need to remain committed to closing the gender divide in the public and private sectors of our economy.

Mabogunje said ending all forms of discrimination and assault against women and girls was not only a basic human right, but crucial for sustainable development.

According to her, the day serves to reflect on the multidimensional issues relating to gender equity, stereotypes, cultural barriers and the imperative of gender mainstreaming in all facets of life.

“As we celebrate the 2021 International Women’s Day, we should remain committed to closing the gender divide in the public and private sectors of our economy.

“Evidence has showed that empowering women and girls has considerable impact on economic growth and development.

“The United Nations has made gender equality central to its work and we’ve seen remarkable progress in the past 20 years.

“There are more girls in school now compared to 15 years ago, and most regions have reached gender parity in primary education.

“However, we should underscore the risk that current security challenges pose to girl child education in some parts of our country.

“The government needs to urgently put an end to the recurrent assault on girl child education by terrorists and bandits in some parts of the country,” she said.

NEPAD lauds women’s contributions to nation’s building

African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), has congratulated Nigerian women for their immense contributions to societal growth.

AUDA-NEPAD’s National Coordinator, Ms Gloria Akobundu, congratulated the womenfolk in a statement by her media Assistant, Mr Abolade Ogundimu, on Monday in Abuja, as the world celebrates Women’s Day.

The Women’s Day is celebrated on every March 8, to appreciate the values, virtues, and the efforts of women in the society.

AUDA-NEPAD’s boss paid glowing tribute, admiration, respect and gratitude to Nigerian women, their African and global counterparts for the great efforts exhumed beyond their limitations in establishing a more equal future for their societies.

Akobundu, however, used the occasion to  reflect on contributions of women in the likes of Hajia Aisha Buhari, Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, UN, and other women serving in various capacities in the country and beyond.

She cautioned the society against underestimating women’s values.

According to Akobundu, women have always been part of successes achieved by humanity, having given birth and nurtured both men and women, but nature and society seem to have placed some limitations on the female gender.

“The belief that there is limit to how women can advance or achieve greatness in life is a wrong notion that exists only in the minds of individuals or groups that subscribe to it and not a reality.

“Interestingly, the world has witnessed more women contributing in different spheres of life, making changes, contribute their quota in peace building to the advancement of humanity and the world, ” she said.

Adamawa Assembly wants more appointment for women

The Adamawa House of Assembly has called on the state government to ensure 35 per cent affirmative action for women while making appointment in the state.

Aminu Abbas, Speaker of the House made the call yesterday to mark International Women’s Day in Yola.

Abbas said the call became necessary because of the contribution of women to the development of the society.

According to him, women are the backbone of any development in the society.

The Speaker said the House would convene its intention to the Wife of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the Commissioner for Women Affairs for appropriate actions.

In her contribution, Mrs Kate Mamuno, member representing Demsa Constituency and Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs, urged the state government to empower more women in the state.

Mamuno called on the House to acknowledge the efforts of women in good governance and nation building.

Abdullahi Yafak, member representing Vere Constituency, called on people of Adamawa to elect more women in decision-making positions come 2023 to enable them contribute more to nation building.

Yafak said due to the House support for women development, it recently passed VAPP Act for assent and was currently working on a bill for the protection of children.

He reiterated that the aim of the bills were to protect women against rape and other violence in the society.

Reps to remove obstacle militating against devt of women, says Gbajabiamila

House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has said the House will explore legislative means to remove all obstacles militating against the development of women in the country.

The Speaker, who spoke while declaring open the commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day, organised by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, said the House would collaborate with critical local and international stakeholders to achieve the set goals which was a priority area on the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House.

Gbajabiamila also said the House was determined to holistically address the issue of violence against, stressing that the House under his leadership will continue to take actions to address the challenges militating against the advancement of women in all spheres of human endeavour.

He said: “I ask all of you here today to support the House in this regard so that together we can make the world a better place for all our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues.

“It is said that women hold up half the sky. This is intended to reflect the recognition that our world, imperfect as it may be, will be even less, were it not for the women whose presence and contribution has been the basis of much of human achievement.

“At the same time, that statement stands as a judgment against a world where too often, it feels as if there is a concerted effort between the forces of culture and government to deny women the full expression of their rights and the achievement of their highest ambitions.”

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Hon. Zainab Gimba, said the day was dedicated to celebrating the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a platform to action for accelerating gender parity.

“Women makes up half of the Africa populations, denying them opportunities is denying the continent a valuable contributions to its development as increased women participation in all facet of human endeavour can help improve social, economic, legal and cultural conditions for women in particular and the society at large.

“To achieve this goal, we must take conscious and delibrate steps to ensure women involvement in every sphere of decision making process to usher in an inclusive development.  Gender inequality remains one of the greatest threats to Africa’s future,” she said.

Kwara govt to give voice to women, says Abdulrazaq

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration will continue to give voice to women.

Abdulrazaq congratulated women in the state on the 2021 commemoration of the International Women’s Day.

The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, said: “On this occasion of the 2021 International Women’s Day, we state that there is no turning back in our determination to giving voice to our women and empowering the girl child. Whether in the political decision making process or in the bureaucratic settings, we are setting a new standard of building a sustainable and brighter future by upholding affirmative action,” the Governor said in a statement commemorating the day.

“Our agenda to empower Kwara women aligns with the theme of this year’s celebration which is ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid-19 World’. The administration is committed to socioeconomic and political empowerment/inclusion of women because of their critical roles in building a stronger and healthier world where both genders work in harmony for the larger good of our communities. This commitment is glaring in our appointments, programmes, and policies just under the last two years.”

Group calls for action on mental illness among women

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mairo Maryam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (MMAWT) Legacy Initiative, yesterday called for actions that will mitigate mental illness and other issues affecting women and girls.

The NGO urged stakeholders to pay much attention to the surge in cases of mental illness, depression and trauma among women, girls and other victims of the vices.

The founder of the Initiative, Hajya Mairo Maryam Tambuwal, said paying attention to mental illness, depression and different forms of trauma is a crucial part of their recovery from the prevailing challenges facing Nigerian women and girl child.

Hajia Tambuwal said: “While the rest of the world is slowly recovering from the devastation of the pandemic, we in the North are grappling with a lot of vices, ranging from incessant kidnap of school children, with girls often being the target to communities losing their source of livelihoods because they do not have access to their farms.”

‘Women will address challenges of the future’

The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, has said encouraging more women into leadership positions remains critical in the development of any society.

Dr. Aliyu said it would go a long way in addressing the challenges of the future.

The minister stated this at the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration organised by the Association of Women Town Planners, FCT Chapter with the theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-World”

Aliyu, who was represented by the Director FCT Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Zalihau Ahmed, also stated that women in leadership positions must continue to push the boundaries of gender equality by utilising their strengths and leadership qualities in skill, knowledge, experience and emotion, adding that women must pursue the things they want from their job and their career, not waiting for them to come to them.

FRSC honours Tolulope Arotile

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has honoured the late Tolulope Arotile of the Nigerian Air Force for her selfless service and heroism to the nation.

FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, yesterday said along with the late Arotile, other women in the military and paramilitaries were also being celebrated through an event, tagged:  “Women-In-Uniform”.

With the theme, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in COVID-19 World (Choose to Change), Ogungbemide said Arotile’s dedication while in service showed that what a man can do, a woman can do it better.

The FRSC official added that until her death as a flying officer, Arotile contributed significantly to combat operations against insecurity in the Northern part of the country.

He said: “I commend retired Corps Commander, Kadija Akinbote, who spent all her life in uniform ensuring that the Nigerian roadways are safe for Nigerian motorists as a trained first responder. To appreciate the contribution of women to nation building, let us go down memory lane to recognize the contributions of some of our amazons, both dead and living, who have left their marks.

“One of such amazing women was late Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Nigerian feminist and political leader; also Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist affairs minister in Nigeria and presently first black Female Director General of the World Trade Organisation. Also Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a prolific writer whose works range from novels to short stories and to non-fiction”.

The First Lady of Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Dr Grace Igbokwe, wife of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage, said there was no gainsaying the fact that the world was still contending with the reality of COVID-19 pandemic, observing that the unexpected and anticipated pandemic brought about unprecedented health crisis and greatly affected global economy.

“In Nigeria and in Lagos State particularly, we seriously felt and we are still feeling the heat from the pandemic, even though it is a lot better now. It is important to lay emphasis on the fact that officers, especially women in uniform, must strike a delicate balance and maintain acceptable equilibrium between their work and their home-front. Even as you work to safeguard residents, your home-from must not be neglected,” she said.

The Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji, who was represented by Director Political Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Olabisi Shonibare, urged women to do better in whatever they do and remain focused on their goals.

Jaji said that women had played significant part in shaping the society.

“We have proven our mettle be it as leaders of nations, heads of corporations, in the military, bureaucracy or other powerful positions. Our contributions to the economy, society or politics cannot be overlooked. As women, we must update our knowledge, network and help one another to bounce back and never to give up,” Jaji

‘Women given greater participation in APC, government’

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured women folks in the country of its resolve to continue to provide enabling environment for our women to reach their highest potentials.

It also pledged to make the party a more women-inclusive political organisation.

Secretary to the party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, said President Muhamadu Buhari has held the ladder for women to soar. The party also said the APC-led government has shown commitment in the appointment of women into key positions in government.

According to the Secretary, “No fewer than 50 women are currently serving in top positions such as ministers, head of service of the federation, special advisers and as heads of departments and agencies.”

By Gboyega Alaka, Bolaji Ogundele, Frank Ikpefan, Gbenga Omokhunu, Damian Duruiheoma, Moses Emorinken and Sanni Onogu

 

The Presidency yesterday led dignitaries and organisations to celebrate women on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, said this year’s edition of the International Women’s has provided it the opportunity to honour the Nigerian woman.

The International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8 of every year, is a globally observed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.

This year’s edition has been themed “Choose to Challenge”.

In the statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidency reeled out a list of some of the women who have been working with President Buhari in his administration, tagged ‘the Buhari Women’.

The statement published the names and positions of 32 such appointees, which, it said, are just a few of them.

According to the statement, the ‘Buhari Women’ projects to the world how the President had been honouring the womenfolk.

The statement reads: “Here is a checklist of ‘The Buhari Women,’ just few of them: Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Sadiya Umar Farouq, Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Pauline Tallen, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs; Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, and Sharon Ikeazor, Honourable Minister of State for Environment.

“On the list too are Gbemisola Saraki, Honourable Minister of State for Transportation;  Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Honourable Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Folashade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Mariam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President;  Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, and Secretary of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and  Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

“Others are Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson and CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission;   Chioma Ejikeme, Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO); Aisha Dahir-Umar, Director-General, National Pension Commission; Jummai A.M. Audi, Chairperson, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC); Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator/Chief Executive of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria; Nnenna Akajemeli, National Coordinator/CEO, SERVICOM  and Folashade Joseph, Managing Director, Nigeria Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC).

“Also on the lists are Cecilia Gaya, Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Ronke Sokefun, Chairperson, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC); Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

“The rest are Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Oge Modie, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Strategic Communications; Toyin Adeniji, Executive Director, Micro Enterprises, Bank of Industry (Oversees the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP); Stella Okotete, Executive Director, Business Development, NEXIM Bank;  Omolola Abiola-Edewor, Executive Director, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC); Imaan Sulaiman–Ibrahim, Director-General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant to the President on Social Media, and INEC Federal Commissioner-nominee.”

 

Lawan: women deserve support, respect from society

 

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said women deserve full support and respect in view of their indispensable roles.

Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, described the theme of this year’s celebration, “Choose to Challenge”,  as apt in reminding society of the pivotal roles women play in the family and nation-building and the need to pay attention to the challenges confronting them.

“Women play indispensable roles in private and public lives and deserve full support and respect of society for those roles.

“Our women also deserve support and encouragement to participate without discrimination or inhibitions in governance and public affairs in general.

“Our public policies should therefore deliberately seek to get the best from them for the peace and progress of our country,” Lawan said.

 

Obaseki ‘committed to more women in govt’

 

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has committed to accommodating more women in his government by ensuring that they are given equal opportunity to contribute to the state’s development.

The governor, who said this in commemoration of the International Women’s Day marked every March 8, noted that he would continue to advance policies and programmes to promote gender mainstreaming.

According to him, “As a government, we are committed to providing opportunities for women to contribute to the state’s development. We already have ample examples of how women have transformed different sectors of the state’s economy. We are proud of the achievement of these women and will be engaging them more as we work to make Edo great again.”

 

I support another woman, says Senator Tinubu

 

Senator Oluremi Tinubu has expressed support for women’s development.

The senator, in a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day, called for support for women.

Senator Tinubu’s statement reads: “I am delighted to celebrate with Nigerian women and our counterparts all over the world on the commemoration of International Women’s Day, 2021.

“The global UN theme for this year’s celebration, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” reflects the novelty of the times we are in, and is a pointer to the need continue to further the cause of women in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and our new normal. The pandemic has brought to the fore, the urgent need for more women in leadership and management; and the importance of socio-economic empowerment of women across board.

“Unfortunately for us in Nigeria, in addition to the effects of COVID-19, we have other issues including but not limited to insurgency and banditry to contend with. The effect on our younger generations, particularly the girls, some of whom are still being held by their abductors is unimaginable. If we let this scourge continue to ravage our Nation, who would be left for us to bequeath anything at all?

“There is work to do towards ensuring that we have a viable Nation where young girls and women can wake up, secure, happy and proud to be Nigerian.

“As a Nigerian woman, what are you doing in your business to support and empower women? What role are you playing to challenge gender biases and discrimination in your Community? Are you still conforming to gender stereotypes? What are you doing to ensure that girls and women around you have a voice and can use it effectively?

“Beyond the rhetoric, I challenge men and women alike to support women and their causes, condemn in absolute terms all forms of gender based violence and crimes against women, and create around you, an environment that ensures that women can flourish and thrive.

“As women, we must also continue to show strength and courage, challenging assumptions and raising the bar in our homes, businesses, our chosen careers, management and public office.

“I look forward to a world that is safe for our daughters, sisters and mothers; and assure you of my continued commitment to the advancement of rights and causes of womenfolk.

“Once again, I congratulate you all and wish you Happy International Women’s Day.”

 

Women workers are being harassed in work places, says NLC

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said a large percentage of women in both formal and informal sectors are “going through hell” because they are being harassed.

The women, the NLC noted, find it difficult to express themselves while suffering in silence.

The Congress premised its assertions on findings it carried out at various work places.

The NLC noted that the failure of the Federal Government to ratify and domesticate the convention 190 which discourages Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the world of work as adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) two years ago was aiding the trend.

Addressing reporters at a virtual workshop in collaboration with Solidarity Centre AFL-CIO during the weekend, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Head, Women and Youth department of NLC, Rita Goyit, wondered why FG was still delaying ratification of convention 190.

She said despite making commitment to ratify the convention, the Federal Government was yet to keep its promise, saying the delay had drawn Nigeria back in some pertinent areas.

Goyit said: “In 2019, when the ILO Convention 190 was adopted in Geneva, the Nigerian government made a commitment that it will be among the first countries to ratify and also domesticate the Convention, but that is yet to be done.”

Goyit, who explained that Nigeria stands to gain a lot by ratifying the convention 190, stressed that it would make work places free from violence and harassment and will also boost productivity, adding that it would also put Nigeria on the list of countries that promote human rights.

The Deputy Chairperson, National Women Commission of NLC,  told reporters how the Congress has been leading various campaigns to encourage women to speak up against GBVH and break the culture of silence society condones around GBVH.

She insisted that they would not back down on their campaigns against GBVH until government and employers do the needful to protect women in Nigeria.

Senior Programme Officer, Solidarity Center AFL-CIO, Nkechi Odinukwe, revealed how gender-based violence and harassment was affected and worsened by cultural, economic, ideological, political, social, environmental and health factors.

She listed displacement, armed conflict, terrorism, migration and increased globalization of economic activities and COVID-19 pandemic as factors that have compounded woes of women across 36 states of the federation.

She said: “Within this COVID-19 pandemic period, gender-based violence especially rape and domestic violence against women workers have risen to exponential levels as women who could get away from abusive partners before the pandemic now find they have to forcefully stay in same spaces with their abuser due to social distancing restrictions.

“We have seen a lot of women workers abused at home this period than ever before. These women workers come to work dealing with a lot of issues linked to abuse they face at home.”

 

Activists seek practical approach to end poverty among women

 

A group of activists, under the auspices of Helpline Foundation for the Needy in collaboration with Make a Difference for The Needy Foundation and the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers in FCT, said it is time to move beyond the yearly talk shows, to empowerment of rural women especially, at a time when countries are battling to recover from the economic difficulties occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the end of a skill acquisition training organised for rural women, the founder of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai

Ahmadu, said the foundation chose to empower women with skills, in line with this year’s theme which is choose to challenge.

In her words: “We just want to bring them together, to give them some skills, so that they can challenge themselves, and by the time we meet next time, we will be able to identify the specific things they have done as a result of us bringing them here.”

 

Feminists worried over increasing violence against women

 

The Nigerian Feminists Forum (NFF) has raised the alarm that violence against women and girls have reached unprecedented proportions across the country.

NFF is a biennial public policy forum that brings together self-identifying women, who through feminists’ principles challenge the system of power, promoting the learning and teaching of feminists principles and universality of women’s rights.

In a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Angela Nkwo, NFF said: “The violations against women and girls have reached unprecedented proportions, and a lack of data collection means there is no accurate record for the exact numbers of women and girls kidnapped and abused daily; with no conscious government effort to address these injustices or provide redress for the victims or address the break down in insecurity.”

 

Women are partners in progress for a better society, says Uzodimma

 

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that the society will be incomplete if women are not fully incorporated as partners in progress.

The governor said women have demonstrated capacity in all spheres of human endeavour, including where men could not, hence their diverse abilities should complement that of the menfolk in making the society a better place for all to live.

Uzodimma, whose government has more than 35 female appointees in his administration as either Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Directors General, among others, believes that getting the womenfolk to occupy responsible political and other offices will go a long way in helping to mould our children into becoming responsible members of the society.

He preached zero tolerance for gender-based violence because it has a way of limiting the potentials of women and urged mothers and the girl child to see themselves as the mirror through which a better society could be gleaned.

 

Firm targets Africa’s first women-only Assembly plant

 

Stallion-Bajaj Alliance (Nigeria) has announced its plan to establish Africa’s first women-only assembly plant in Nigeria.

To this end, it has trained and integrated 40 women into VON Assembly Plant in Lagos Nigeria and aim to significantly grow its female representation to 35% by the end of 2022.

These are some of the company’s glide tidings to Nigerian women, as it commemorates this year’s International Women’s Day.

Speaking during a press tour of the VON Assembly Plant, the MD, Stallion-Bajaj Auto Keke LTD, Mr Manish Rohtagi, said “To celebrate IWD this year, we will be welcoming a new set of female mechanics to the training programme. This is in line with our goal to train and absorb 500 female technicians by 2022. To achieve this, we will be holding several more training sessions for female riders, female assemblers and female mechanics before the year runs out.”

According to Rohtagi, women make up over half of the world’s population and are integral to the growth of the world economy and the Stallion-Bajaj Alliance has put gender equality at the forefront of its SDGs. “For Stallion-Bajaj, International Women’s Day is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure more spaces are created for women to thrive. It is a reminder for us to examine our processes and structures, to ensure wage gaps are closed, equal- opportunities are offered to women at all levels.”

 

Mothers critical to war against use of narcotics, says NAFDAC

 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday stressed that Nigerian mothers play a pivotal role in nation-building, especially in the war against the use of narcotics and other dangerous drugs amongst the youths.

It urged mothers to be vigilant, and pay more attention to the wellbeing of their children, by closely monitoring the kind of friends their children keep.

The Director-General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made these known in her message to Nigerian mothers to commemorate the International Women Day 2021, in Abuja.

Prof Adeyeye, in a statement by NAFDAC Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, noted that the role of mothers in the home cannot be over-emphasized. She said the Nigerian mother has always been closest to the children since the father is more often than not out there working tirelessly to provide for the needs of the family.

She, however, urged the mothers to always pay more attention to their children and be more concerned about the kind of friends they keep away from home, adding that many of the Nigerian youths from good homes become addicted to narcotics and other dangerous drugs due to the care-free attitude of their parents, particularly, the mothers.

 

AFRIMA celebrates

 

In solidarity with the United Nations International Women’s Day 2021 (IWD 2021) themed as “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World” and the offshoot #ChooseToChallenge campaign, the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) has joined the rest of the world to honour the strength of women, celebrate their diverse social, economic, cultural and political achievements and call for accelerated gender parity in general and better remuneration for women in the culture industry in Africa.

Music Executive and Member of the International Jury of AFRIMA for the Diaspora in North Africa, Ms. Hadja Kobele Keita, gave credit to women entrepreneurs shattering the glass ceiling in the music industry.

“At the very inception of the African music industry culture, women had always been at the forefront. However, we are grossly underpaid and underrepresented. In order to break barriers, women are creating their own path in the industry by starting their own companies and taking on more executive roles. It’s delicate but, for us to be heard in an industry overpowered by traditional norms, it is a significant step forward. What gives me hope for the future of women, particularly in the African music industry, is the fact that we have organizations like AFRIMA that are committed to pushing the agenda of empowering women in a society that tries to suppress our creativity”, Ms. Keita stated.

 

Expectant women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been depending mostly on traditional birth attendants to be delivered of their babies during the pandemic. GRACE OBIKE investigates how unskilled TBAs have come to the rescue of women in the camps and looks at what has been done in other states to reduce maternal mortality rates.

Helping a woman to birth a child was the last thing on the mind of 28-year-old Godiya John, mother of four.

When her pregnant neighbour, Tabitha Sunday, 23, a mother of three, cried out for help in the middle of the night, she assumed that she would only be required to take her to the hospital or to call the traditional birth attendants (TBA) at the Kuchigoro camp for Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

However, this was not to be because Tabitha was fully dilated and there was no alternative for Godiya but to help Tabitha deliver her baby at home.

“I was scared because I had never assisted in a delivery before,” Godiya said.

Seeing the agony in Tabitha’s face, Godiya set aside her fears and swung into action.  “Tabitha directed me to her cache of delivery items—gloves, anointing oil, bleach, a bottle of disinfectant, a polythene bag, sanitary pads, several clips and wrappers. From my experience having delivered all my four children at home, I felt it would be best to massage her stomach as she pushed for the baby to come out. The baby’s head was already popping out. Since she did not have bed pads, I laid out some wrappers for her to deliver on.

“After the baby was born, I cut the umbilical cord with a razor, held it with a clip, cleaned the baby with a clean sanitary pad and the oil which l had poured all over it like l had seen other TBAs do. Then I put the baby in diapers and some clothes before turning to the mother whom l helped bathe with warm water.”

Enoch Yohanna is not a TBA and had never helped a woman deliver before he came to Kuchigoro camp six years ago.  Yohanna, who escaped the frequent Boko Haram attacks at his home in Gwoza, Borno State, has so far delivered 52 babies in the camp. He has no medical qualifications and has not received any basic training on delivering babies.

Yohanna said, “A few weeks into my arrival at the camp, I was called upon to assist a neighbour, Laraba Yusufu, who went into labour at about 10 PM. Some members of the camp and I took her to the Federal Medical Centre Jabi, where we were asked to pay N20,000, which we could not afford. We pleaded with the hospital to allow us to pay after delivery, but they refused.”

Yohanna said they were also rejected at the National Hospital and the Asokoro General Hospital because they did not have the money. After the run-around at the hospitals, they were directed to the Old Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre. But by then, Laraba’s labour was too far advanced. Yohanna helped deliver the baby who was born under the Area One bridge while on their way to the centre.

Yohanna did not know what to do after the baby was born— how to deal with the afterbirth or clamping the umbilical code. However, he was able to get the new mother and her baby to the health centre where the nurses helped. “We were asked to pay N6000 before the nurses agreed to detach the placenta. Unfortunately, the baby fell seriously ill and almost died. He was saved after the Nigerian navy came to offer free medical services to the camp residents.  The baby was treated by the navy doctors for free,” he says.

Soon after the incident, he was made the camp secretary. During the period he realised that members of the Kuchigoro host community were taking advantage of the IDPs, selling them medication and food at exorbitant rates as they were new to Abuja and did not know their way around. He eventually resolved the issues with the host community and began applying the little medical skills he had acquired from watching his parents who were both medical professionals.

After Laraba’s successful delivery, Yohanna successfully delivered three more babies. Since then, the pregnant women have come to trust him and have been calling on him to help deliver their babies.

“I already knew most of the things that need to be done. My mother taught me the basics. Both of my parents were medical practitioners. My mother was a pediatric nurse and my father was the head of the Orthopedic Department at the General Hospital Goshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

“Both of my parents were missionaries who assisted our community in Gwoza when they were alive. My mother was always the first point of call by the women who were in labour and she often allowed me to assist. We also had a pharmacy at home and my parents taught us how to give injections, first aid and the basics, like how to set a cannula and a line for a drip.”

Why take the risk

A January 16, 2020 article by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ‘Traditional birth attendants in north-east Nigeria affirms the integral role that traditional birth attendants, even accidental ones like Yohanna, play in helping to reduce the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria and particularly in the northeastern region ravaged by insurgency forcing thousands of people into camps.

“Without them, we would be doomed!,” the report quotes Samuel Okech who is responsible for the ICRC health programs in Maiduguri when referring to the role that the traditional birth attendants play in helping mothers deliver safely.

Nigeria is considered a dangerous place to become a mother. It has one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world with over 40,000 maternal deaths occurring yearly. This is according to a report by the Federal Ministry of Health titled, ‘Accelerated reduction of maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria, a roadmap for action 2019-2021.’

The lifetime risk of dying in pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is estimated to be 1 in every 22 women, which is the highest in Africa. As of 2013, Nigeria was recording 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality of 37 deaths per 1000 live births. On average, 303,000 women die every year from pregnancy-related causes. The country’s maternal mortality burden of 58,000 lives and a perinatal mortality rate of 77 per 1000 births is second only to Pakistan. Maternal and neonatal mortality rates are higher among women in the Northern States as compared to women in other parts of the country. For example, the maternal mortality rate in  the North-Eastern region is three times higher than the national average.

The major causes of maternal and neonatal deaths are lack of knowledge by the women on the importance of attending antenatal care services, lack of skills, equipment, drugs and tools in health facilities, the poor state of facilities and slow and unreliable life-saving care as well as the cost of accessing these services. TBAs fill in the gap and therefore play a huge role in helping reduce maternal and infant mortality.

“Health professionals do not recognise TBAs, but the communities rely on them heavily. They trust them. This is why we have to train them,” says Peace Njideka Nwokorie, Health Assistant for the ICRC which has been training TBAs best practices for delivering babies. The TBAs are also trained on how to deal with family conflicts and domestic violence.

One of such TBAs is 57-year-old IDP and mother of nine, Naomi Isiaku. She has been delivering babies for the past 20 years. On her last count, she had delivered 37 babies including 27 at the Kuchigoro camp where she has been living for the past six years.  Naomi’s mother was also a TBA and she grew up watching and assisting her in helping her deliver the women of their village in Gwoza.

She said, “All the 37 babies were delivered safely except one which was a stillbirth. I was called to deliver the baby and I realised that it had died in its mother’s womb. Those I delivered at home in Gwoza, at the IDP camp in Cameroon and here in Kuchigoro, were safely delivered.”

Tabitha Sunday had planned to deliver her third baby in a hospital. Her two previous births had been at the hospital.

She said, “I went for three antenatal sessions,  but I could not afford the N2500 required for a scan. As my time for delivery neared, I knew that my dream of having my baby at the hospital would  be impossible because I had no money and the skilled health personnel that were assigned to the camp were no longer available due to the pandemic.”

Twenty-six-year-old Sarah Yusuf had no plans of giving birth in a hospital. The mother of three only attended one antenatal session. And this session was only because she got someone who offered to pay the N2000 required to open a file for her at the hospital. She could not afford a second session or the N2500 for a scan.

Preparing for a home birth, Sarah went to the camp dispensary and collected some gloves, clips for the cord for when the baby arrived. She also bought a bed pad and when her labour started in the middle of the night, she sent for one of the traditional birth attendants in the camp.

“The birth attendant here is well experienced, she assists us freely. But if you have money, you can give her N1500 and if you don’t, you can give her soap or a wrapper as a way of appreciation,” she says.

Naomi said that she does not ask for payment because she was also delivered of her children by TBAs who never asked for money.

“I do this to help my people and God takes care of me. When people come to the camp to donate, we get something to eat. When farming season arrives, I go and farm to feed my family,” she said.

Enoch Yohanna explains why so many of the women in the camp have opted to deliver their babies at home: “Abuja is not a place for the poor. Delivery in the hospital costs N25,000 and a delivery kit N15,000. You will also be asked to bring blood or pay N10,000. Our people can barely feed themselves. We depend on handouts from individuals, faith bodies and NGOs. But such assistance is no longer available due to the hardships caused by the pandemic.”

He said many of the TBAs are aware of the risks that come with delivering babies in the camp since they do not have the equipment or the skills to assist women having a difficult birth. He said they have been fortunate since none of the 79 babies that he and Naomi have delivered over the last 6 years have resulted in death. “We only have one case of stillbirth. The only other case of infant mortality we have had was not at birth but as a result of malnutrition after birth,” he said.

Why the huge success?

Both Yohanna and Naomi attribute their success to different reasons— faith in Naomi’s case and in Yohanna’s case, his ability to calm and reassure the mother’s fears at delivery as well as the rudimentary skills that he has been able to acquire from watching his mother when he was growing up and from the experience he has managed to gain over time.

Naomi and Yohanna try not to deliver women who have problem deliveries —those presenting breech birth positions or other similar complications.  But all this is done in a haphazard manner since they are not able to determine those at risk of having a problem delivery as they do not have any equipment such as an ultrasound.

In such instances, they usually question the women to find out if the baby is presenting in a breech birth. If the woman says she feels her baby kicking around the ribs, lower down below the belly button or if they identify a hard round lump under the ribs of the expectant mother which does not move very much, they advise the woman to prepare to go and deliver the baby in hospital.

Sometimes these complications present themselves when it is too late—when the woman is already in labour. “In these instances we have to take the risk and deliver the woman,” Yohanna says.

In a place like the Kuchigoro camp where the displaced inhabitants depend on goodwill that is rare now as a result of the pandemic, TBA’s are a godsend to the pregnant who cannot afford to go and deliver in hospitals.

Yohanna’s motivation to help is his way of paying back for the support that the villagers gave to him and his family when his father was murdered by Boko Haram. The villagers defied the directives of the Boko Haram not to bury his father. “They used hoes and their bare hands to bury my father whose body had been left out in the open for three days. We fled from the village thereafter,” he recalls.|

A study published in August 2014 in the Journal of public health and epidemiology titled, ‘Traditional Birth Attendants and Women’s Health Practices: a Case Study of Patani in Southern Nigeria,’ By Geoffrey Nwakwuo, Ferdinand Oshonwoh and Christopher Ekiyor, outlines the importance of traditional birth attendants in Nigeria.

The study stated that despite the existence of modern health facilities in Nigeria, over 58% of deliveries still take place at home and only 37% take place in hospitals.

It added that a study of 377 women who delivered before arrival at the hospital in Ogbomosho, South-Western Nigeria revealed that, 65% of the mothers had been delivered by a TBA, while 73.7% had sought help from them for retained placenta with bleeding. In Chanchaga LGA of Niger State in North-Central Nigeria, 84% of households interviewed utilized the services of a TBA or village health worker.

External help for Kuchigoro

Unlike other TBAs in the camp, Tabitha has not received any training. Naomi said she and a few TBAs underwent some basic training and were given a delivery kit comprising of gloves and medicines to stop excessive bleeding. “They asked me to charge the women for the medicines and for my services. They gave me the medicines to be given to a woman after delivery to avoid blood loss and it was supposed to cost N3000. I thought it was too much and asked the women to give me N1500 for the medicine. And even at that, still a lot of them cannot afford it.”

Director, Public Health Center of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Public Health Center Board (PHCB), Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko explained that, “We follow the rules of task shifting and sharing policy. It says you can train health workers on life saving skills so that they can be skilled birth attendants under the supervision of midwives to take deliveries and on the danger signs of pregnancy, labour, postnatal periods, family planning and immunization, among others. But with TBAs, we know that they are in the communities. In the FCT we go by the national and international rules and regulations of WHO. So most times we don’t consider TBAs, we don’t work with TBAs unless on issues of HIV, where we tell them that if they see a patient with signs they should be referred to the facilities.”

Regarding their healthcare needs, Yohanna said the TBAs do not have enough delivery kits. According to him, the last donations made to the camp were in 2019 when the Australian government provided them with 200 delivery kits which he handed over to the Kuchigoro health centre to be used by the women from the camp. He said most of the kits were destroyed during a flood and those that remained were beyond salvage and had to be destroyed.

A basic delivery kit should, at a minimum, include a clean razor blade for cutting the infant’s umbilical cord, soap for washing hands before delivery, a pair of gloves, cord ties, a plastic sheet to ensure delivery on a clean surface, two pieces of cloth, one to dry the baby and the other one to wrap the baby and a pictorial instruction that unskilled TBAs like Naomi and Yohanna can use.

The Mothers’ Delivery Kit which retails at N1,700 in Nigeria has now started including medicine like misoprostol – a drug that stops postpartum haemorrhage – and mucus extractors used to prevent newborns from asphyxiating. Postpartum bleeding is a major cause of maternal deaths.

Dr. Wamakko explained that the FCT provides delivery kits under the pharmaceutical department in conjunction with the safe motherhood which they call Mama Kit. These are supplied directly to PHCs in the six area councils and not just communities for expectant mothers attending antenatal at the PHCs or going for delivery, but special attention is paid more to facilities with more patients.

She added that, “But we ran short of it in this period of COVID-19, our last deliveries were around January/February 2020 and since then there has been a shortage and we have not even produced at all.

“The Mama Kit is a bag where we put things necessary for delivery. It includes sanitary pads, bed pads, razor blades for cutting the cord of the baby, hand gloves, clips for the baby’s navel, 4% chlorhexidine used for neonatal infection, soap that the midwife can use to wash after taking delivery, methylated spirit as disinfectant. Sometimes Oxytocin is included, but we sometimes replace it with Misoprostol which is easier to store in PHCs without electricity for storage. The drug is used to make the uterus contrast to stop bleeding after delivery.”

Yohanna also expressed concern that the majority of the children born in the camp were not registered as the parents are expected to pay N100-N500 for a birth certificate.

Faced with forking out N500 which is equivalent to feeding a family for a day, most of the parents were unwilling to spend the money for a certificate. Out of the 79 children he and Naomi helped deliver, only about 10 to 20 are registered.

“When we ask for help from the FCT government they tell us that we are not IDPs, that we should return to Borno State. But is the State safe? Bomb blasts still occur in the camps over there. So why would you force someone to go and die?”

Responding to this, the acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Faustina Ngaha said the IDP camps in the FCT are not considered legal settlements. “The settlements are not considered as IDP camps because there is a United Nations rule that guides the establishment of such camps.  Camps are supposed to be located near the area of incident like we have in Maiduguri and that is why FEMA has time and again advised many of them to go back home, close to where the incident happened, where we have established IDP camps with allocations and where they will be well taken care of. Some of them have agreed to go but some have not.”

On IDPs access to health services, Ngaha said FEMA had arrangements with two hospitals in Abuja where they can receive treatment for free. “All they need is to come to FEMA offices and collect a card which they present at the hospital and FEMA pays the hospital. They have been doing this for years but due to the pandemic, one of the hospitals, Asokoro General Hospital was turned into an isolation centre. They can no longer access it but they are still able to access the Wuse General Hospital.” she said.

She said that since 2017 when the program commenced, about 170 IDPs have been able to access and receive treatment at these hospitals. Thirty three of these are IDPs from Kuchigoro. She said many of the pregnant women prefer to go to traditional birth attendants instead of going to hospital to deliver their babies. “They feel it is easier and convenient for them,” she says.

This is disputed by the women leader of the Kuchigoro camp, Ladi Mathias who says the women are dissuaded from delivering at the hospital because they are asked to pay. She said even those with cards issued by FEMA are expected to pay for health services.

“We no longer go to FEMA for the card because the hospitals do not accept it. They treat us like beggars or like we are not human beings when we go with it. They don’t take us seriously when we present it, you will be ignored by everyone including the doctors. They will keep you waiting for hours.

“My son almost died in July when I took him to Asokoro General Hospital.We took him to the hospital around 9AM on that day, by 4PM he was still lying inside the taxi that we brought him in because they would not agree to take him at the emergency unit. The driver became angry and threatened to leave.

“When I presented the card to the doctors and everyone at the hospital, they refused to attend to us and told us they had no bed. By 4PM, I called a friend for help and she sent me N20,000. I took him to Wuse General Hospital and they accepted to treat him when they realised that I had come with money and not the card.  The last time we went for the card was in February 2020 and the patient that we took to the hospital with the card died after being unattended to for a whole day,”she says

Way out

Some states in Nigeria are taking steps to address the problem of ensuring mothers deliver safely. The Abiye (Safe Motherhood)  campaign launched by Ondo State is a good example of local solutions to reduce infant and maternal mortality. According to the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Ondo state had the worst maternal outcomes in Nigeria’s South West region.The state’s maternal mortality rate 745 per 100,000 lives birth which was far above the national average of 545 per 100,000 live births.

To reverse this situation, the State initiated the Abiye (Safe Motherhood) programme. By 2016, Ondo State had managed to reduce the maternal mortality to by 84.9 per cent to 112 per 100,000 live births. And it was the only state in Nigeria that was able to meet the Millenium Development Goals indicators of reducing maternal death in the country, surpassing that goal with a 75% reduction.  involves community engagement, health system strengthening and the removal of user fees.

About 92.0% of women had received antenatal care in the 2018 survey. Majority of births 80.7% took place in health facilities by the NDHS report of 2018.

The Abiye programme caters for pregnant women and young children aged upto five years. To address the problem of women delaying in seeking care,  a health ranger — a specially trained community health extension worker — is assigned to 25 pregnant women who she visits and monitors regularly.

The pregnant woman is also provided with a mobile phone once she registers at a primary health care center so that she can keep in touch with the health ranger or the primary health care centre where she has registered. The number is toll-free thereby not requiring the women to spend money on calls related to their health and that of their babies.The phones are prepaid by the government and are linked to a caller-user group, and tracked by trained personnel who monitor the calls.

To deal with the problem of commuting to hospital to deliver, the health rangers and health facilities are equipped with transportation means that are appropriately suited to the area of operation such as motorcycles, tricycle ambulances to four-wheeled ambulances. Tricycle ambulances have become popular in other states where they are used to transport COVID-19 patients.

To ensure there is appropriate care for the women when they arrive at the hospital, the Ondo State government improved the health care facilities, provided equipment and medicines and retrained the existing health workers and particularly community health workers who were under-utilised. The state also established two Mother and Child Hospitals at Akure and Ondo. These hospitals specialise in maternal health and  serve as referral centres. Pregnant women are provided with free consultations, laboratory tests, medication, admissions, and surgeries.

Alongside the Abiye initiative, Ondo State also established the Agbebiye (Safe Birth Attendant) Initiative in response to a 2012 Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in Ondo State (CEMDOS) report which linked over 90% maternal deaths to the negligence or delayed referrals by traditional birth attendants.

Under the Agbebiye programme in Ondo State, the TBAs are provided with incentives such as cash, training in acquisition or alternative vocational skills and even small micro-finance initiatives— to refer pregnant women to authorized public facilities and ensure the child is taken delivery of at the facilities. The TBAs receive a voucher on every delivery of a referred pregnant woman in the health facility.

Due to the success of these initiatives and to curb maternal health tourism from neighbouring states, the Ondo State government introduced a residence card Kaadi Igbe Ayo. Only those women with these cards are able to access the state’s free maternal health services.

The Abiye and in particular , the Agbebiye initiative would help meet many of the challenges facing women in the IDP camps.  Re-training TBAs, incentifying them to refer pregnant women to hospital, providing the camps with tricycle ambulances can help reduce the risks that women in the camp are going through.

• This report was supported by the Africa Women Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).