The Nation Newspaper

Tag: gender equality

  • Female lawyers fault Senate’s rejection of Gender Bill

    Female lawyers in the country have faulted the decision by the Senate rejecting the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill‎.

    The lawyers, under the auspices of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, accused the Senate of not being women friendly, in view of its alleged penchant for treating feminine issues with levity.

    FIDA, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mrs. Inime Aguma urged the Senate to always treat issues that concern women with the seriousness it deserves.

    “There would be no Senate without women. We can no longer afford to have citizens who cannot participate effectively in Governance because of discriminatory practices.”

    ‎The group noted that the Senate rejected the bill at a time when the country’s economy was in ruins and it requires the participation of all her citizenry to nurture the country back to her feet.

    FIDA urged well meaning Nigerians and Civil Society organisations (CSOs) to support the sponsors of the Bill to enable them represent the Bill and ensure its passage.

    “On the 16th day of March 2016,  the second reading of the  bill for Gender Equality and equal opportunities was on the Agenda at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    ‎”Unfortunately this bill which addressed all discriminatory practices against women was thrown out.

    “No.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.

    “The United Nations in further recognition of the importance of women’s participation in the socio- economic and political activities of any Nation chose the following themes for the International Women’s day and the United Nations consultative forum on women (holding now in New York) respectively to wit:  ‘planet 50-50 by 2030: step it up for gender equality’ and ‘women empowerment and it’s link to sustainable development ‘.

    “These themes are meant to draw global attention on the need by States parties,  to step  up  gender equality and empower all women and girls.

    “FIDA Nigeria has observed that the Nigerian Senate has decided to think differently from the world.

    “First the theme for the International Women’s day was trivialized to mean ‘men taking more than one wife’.

    “Now, the Equal Opportunities bill has been voted down on reasons that bother on religion and traditions underscoring the need to create a level playing field where women are gainfully engaged in Nation building and development.

    “The issue raised by one of the Senators that the Constitution guarantees the Rights of all persons and therefore the Gender Equality bill is not required is an argument that defeats itself.

    “The discrimination suffered by women are peculiar to women and so there is need for specific legislation to protect the girl child and woman from the monstrosity of our Patriarchal system , cultural and religious beliefs.

    “The provisions of the Constitution on human rights is broad based and the Gender Equality bill sought to promote specific legislation that identifies and prohibits all forms of violations specifically, especially as they are not mentioned in the constitution.

    “Women make up to half of the Nation’s population and a continuous violation of their rights affects the development of the Nation and projects Nigeria as one of the under-developed nations in the world.”

    “It is also time that Civil Society organisations act as a watch dog to Government’s inaction and non-implementation of treaties, making government accountable to the society,” the group said.

     

  • Minister, Ajimobi, renew call for gender equality 

    Minister, Ajimobi, renew call for gender equality 

    Minister of women affairs, Senator Aisha Jumma Alhassan Thursday renewed the call for the agitation for gender equality in Nigeria.

    The Minister ‎condemned the recent attacked on the female children across the country saying government must ensure protection of female children.

    She spoke at the 2016  National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State Council  tagged” today’s women and nation building” held at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Ibadan.

    To the minister of women affairs Senator Alhassan, the role of women in the nation building ‎cannot be over-emphasised.

    The minister who was represented by the Director of special duties at the federal ministry of women affairs and social development, Mrs. Aliu Anetu-Anne commended the effort of some states that supported nominations of women in elective offices.

    According to her, women are not being treated fairly in Nigeria.

    In her word; “it is a fact that the women and the girl-child lack social protection in Nigeria. Many women have been denied of their right, especially employment because they are women while many employers have told women not to attempt the reproductive system after three to five years of their employment. Some have been denied of mandatory maternity leave while some demand for sex before offering women a job.

    “One can go on and on, but the fact remains that the woman has not been treated fairly in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The Nigeria system is no doubt making the women lose her taste.‎”

    The wife of the State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi who was represented by a legal practitioner Mrs. Rose Oyedele, said there is a need for government to consider women in sharing of political offices.

    She said the effort of women cannot be over emphasised in national development.

    “We are women and our contributions cannot be over emphasised. We have contributed to development of our country in a great and unprecedented ways. The recent kidnaps of some girls in Lagos shows we don’t respect girls gender which government need to see too. The Ese Ururu case is another terrible experience. We all should ensure our girls are protected,” she said

  • 2015: Nigerian women reiterate call for gender equality

    Nigerian Women at a forum have called on the Nigerian Government to give equal participation of both sexes in the political affairs of the country.

    This call was made at an interactive forum on perspectives on the proposed National Conference, which was organized by Jadesola Akande Advisory Committee. The well attended event was held at Golden Tulip Hotel in Amuwo Odofin Local Government.

    The discussants at the event included Chief (Mrs) Priscilla Kuye, Dr (Mrs) Keziah Awosika and Chief (Mrs) Olateru Olagbegi who affirmed that the Nigerian Women in other climes are well represented in all sectors, hence the need to give them an opportunity to express themselves freely in a conducive environment in Nigeria.

    They also said that health, poverty alleviation, and other ills in the country should be discussed at the conference for the benefit of the masses. The discussants also paid tributes to Late Prof. Jadesola Akande, saying that she was an Amazon of the struggle to emancipate Nigerians from the shackles of poverty and mis-governance.