2023: Addressing plight of women via gender-related bills

Female legislators over the years have sponsored bills on women issues, but analysts say because of the male dominance of the political space, such bills failed to gain support of the legislature.

A former senator in the 7th Senate, Sen. Helen Esuene had said that women were still under-represented in all political structures in Nigeria.

Esuene who was then the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Matters, said that although women had participated actively in politics in the country, they had nothing to show for it except to mobilise for the electoral successes of other people.

"Much has been said about gender imbalance, violence against women, girl-child education, rape and other problems of women, but little had been done to address them."

The Africa Report had detailed how 11 pieces of legislation that sought to promote gender equality were frustrated in the last decade.

"They include the Gender Equal Opportunities; Abuse and Administration Bill, 2010; Gender Equal Opportunities Abuse and Administration Bill 2012 (both sponsored by Sen. Helen Esuene).

"Others include the Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Bill, 2012; Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, 2014 both sponsored by Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta.

"Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Act, 2015; Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to ensure that all political parties are gender-sensitive and to eliminate all forms of discrimination in all political parties."

In the 9th Senate, the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill was rejected for the third time in five years.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti).

The bill sought to promote gender equality in the country and to reinforce existing laws against gender-based violence.

The proposed package was rejected after some lawmakers in the Senate cited social, cultural and religious concerns, as reasons for rejection.

Kicking against the Bill, Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) said the equality of the male and female gender "infringes on the Quran.

"This equality infringes on the Quran. I will not support the passage of the bill until the word equal is removed. When you bring equality into it, it infringes on the Quran."

Similarly, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, (APC-Sokoto State) said equality was wrong when it relates to Islamic and socio-cultural practices.

He said: "When it comes to socio-cultural practices, it is wrong. When you talk of equity it is okay. When you talk of equality it is no. I will not support it."

Conversely, Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP-Plateau) said women were entitled to equal opportunities.

"Women have been at the receiving end of being excluded. Women are entitled to equal opportunities. Being a woman is not being less human."

On his part, Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege said the bill should be allowed to go for second reading.

He pointed out that the concerns raised by Senators Yusuf and Wamakko would be addressed at the public hearing.

"The feelers I'm getting from the chambers, it appears the consultation has not gone far enough.

"I want to plead that this bill should not be killed here but should be allowed to go for public hearing so if there is anything that Sen. Olujimi missed, it will be addressed."

Furthermore, in what would have appeared as succour for the womenfolk, three bills on women were recommended by the Joint National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution but the bills were not passed.

The report of the Senate was tagged "Report of Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022 and had 68 clauses

They are Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 35, 2022 (Special Seats for Women — Sections 48, 49, 71, 77 & 117).

"The Bill seeks to create special seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.

This is by creating one special seat in each state of the Federation and the FCT reserved solely for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest in the existing senatorial seats in each state and the FCT.

"For the House of Representatives, it is two additional seats for each state and the FCT that is to be reserved for women without prejudice to their eligibility and to contest for the other seats.

"And finally for the Houses of Assembly of each state, one additional seat from each of the three senatorial districts is reserved solely for women. This is to enhance/encourage women participation and representation in governance."

During voting on this bill, 30 senators voted for the bill while 58 voted against the bill.

The second Alteration Bill that was rejected by the National Assembly is the "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 37, 2022 (Affirmative Action for Women in Political Party Administration- Section 223)

"This Bill seeks to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration by requiring a minimum of 35 per cent of party executive members at all levels to be women.

Thirty four senators voted "Yes" and fifty three voted "No" for the bill.

The third Bill is "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 68, 2022 (Affirmative Action).

"This Bill seeks to alter the Constitution to provide a minimum percentage of 10 women nominees as ministers and commissioners in the Federal and State Executive Councils, respectively: as this will guarantee inclusivity of women in governance."

For this Bill, 44 senators voted for the Bill while 43 voted against it.

In her reaction, Sen. Olujimi who was disheartened over the action of her male colleagues said "it's a sad commentary how men place us as the female gender.

"It is disheartening; a great set back because we had worked a lot. It had taken us two years. And beyond the two years, we had spoken to everybody that mattered in the issue. It is very painful to find out that none of them survived.

"We are too disappointed. Not even the smallest one 10 women out of ministers, not even that passed. This shows you how our gender is valued in this country.

"I pray that, that does not continue because if it does, it's going to be a disservice to people coming behind.

"The future is in the woman, the woman is an epitome of the future, she is the representative of what the future holds, if we don't look after the nation, the nation is at risk and if we don't also give to that group, then we are not taking care of tomorrow."

Mrs Odi Lagi, Senior Programme Director, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) said: "It looks like our society does not comprehend the place of women yet in the society.

"We have to do more to make them understand that the role of women is very key to sustainable development in the country.

"The Bills that were rejected are mind boggling that we will not have a right to indigeneship in the states that we are married to or be able to confer our husbands from outside the country, citizenship as it is due men.

"As women, we need to go back and reaffirm and recalculate our strategy and make sure come 2023, we are looking at people who are gender sensitive to be elected into office.

"Because if we don't put people who will speak for us while in office, then our issues will never be front burner," Lagi said.

Mr Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), urged the National Assembly to re-introduce the Bill seeking to provide for Special Seats for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.

"The decision of the National Assembly to reject the key constitution amendment bill aimed at creating special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, re-enforces the need to continue to press on the government.

"This is for it to take significant actions towards full participation and equal leadership opportunities for women at all levels of decision making in Nigeria.''

He said that the reintroduction of the bill should be with a view to passing same before the end of the 9th Assembly.

Nonetheless, with the various protests held by different women organisations, the House of Representatives decided to reconsider three of the bills.

They include Indigeneship Bill, Citizenship Bill and the 35 per cent affirmative action on political parties.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the bills would come up for voting.

He said that situation where there is a difference in the voting results, he would rely on the constitution to rule on the harmonisation since the constitution allowed the House to regulate itself.

It is hoped that when the bills are reconsidered, women will at least heave a sigh of relief.