International Women’s Day: Giving incluson advocacy institutional considerations

Gender equality has become a subject gathering rising attention in Nigeria. The advocacy for the course has recently begun to attract campaigns of advances from wings of women leaders, canvassing for equal rights with men folks in the decision making fabrics of the society. As the World commemorates the International Women’s Day on Tuesday, the advocacy for the campaign towards gender equality in the fabrics of the Nigerian society shadowed the celebration in the Country. This is not, however, to say that the prevailing male dominated setting of societal decision making fabrics is limited to Nigeria. Other parts of the world do have their reflections of same.

However, within the Nigerian setting, the commemoration of the day was premised on a campaigning atmosphere, particularly as rising concerns had created ample chance for expression of grievances, following the rejection of pro-women equality bills by the National Assembly.  Recall that last week, a bill seeking to give at least 10 slots to women as ministers and commissioners in the federal and state governments’ cabinets failed at the upper legislative chamber, as 44 senators voted yes, while 43 voted no, in a total of 88  registered vote,  while one lawmaker abstained.  The bill which was meant to guarantee the inclusivity of women in governance failed as it could not garner the 73 votes needed for it to be passed. Similar fate befell pro-women bills at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 1st of March, as a bill seeking to reserve special seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly, suffered rejection. This followed the rejection of the bill at the electronic voting on the amendment of 1999 Constitution in Abuja. The bill entitled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide For Special Seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly,” recorded 81 lawmakers voting in favour while larger sum of 208 voted against it as 13 members abstained from voting. The lawmakers also rejected a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution to provide for Affirmative Action for women in political party administration, as 224 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, falling short of the required 240 votes needed to pass the ball.

Reactions from woman have recorded protests at various levels of influence. Protests against what is seen as anti-women course occupied the  commemoration of the International Women’s Day in the Country. Wives of the 36 State Governors on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly, joining other protesting women and activists to express their grievances over the recent rejection of the pro-women bills at the plenaries of the National Assembly. The Governors’ wives and other women converged at the entrance of the National Assembly to protest against what they believe was injustice on the female gender. The wives of the Governors in a statement signed by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) and First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Fayemi as part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, had condemned in very strong terms, what they described as brazen discrimination against Nigerian women. The wives of the Governors, who had vowed to occupy the National Assembly, said that as those who form half of the population of the country, their voices and lives matter, adding that there can be no development without the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of life. To them, any country that continues to deliberately undermine the advancement of women was simply stifling its own advancement.

This is just as the National Women Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to teach members of the National Assembly that voted against Affirmative Action for women, a bitter lesson by their franchise. The NLC women have called on their members and their households that do not have Permanent Voters Card, PVC, to make sure that they get it, saying that the 2023 will not be business as usual. Speaking during the International Women’s Day, rally in Abuja, the Chairperson, NLC Women Political Commission, Comrade Salamatu Aliyu said that what the Nigerian women were asking for was inclusiveness. “We are going to the street to tell the world that we are not happy. Wherever they are (National Assembly members), we will sort them out and that is when they will know that khaki is not leather. There is the difference between Khaki and leader. Because of the constipation they have caused us, we are going to draw a map for them. The Congress has a plan and our demands. He who fits into our demands is the person we are going to vote for. So, if you do not have a voter’s card, if there is any member of your family that doesn’t have voter’s card, please make sure they get it because I believe each and every one of us here can cast 10 votes in the family. It’s uncalled for that a country that belongs to us is being bastardized right under our nose.

“My position is if there are no followers, will there be leaders? Do you know the worst poverty that can bedevil a human being is the poverty of the brain, if one has the poverty of the brain, the person will not progress, the person will never think out of the box because there is nothing upstairs. What we are asking for is inclusiveness,” she was quoted.

In support of the demands, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has said for Nigeria to make progress, political leaders especially the President and the 36 State Governors must give listening attention to the women directly. On Tuesday at a special event organised by CAN’s Women Wing to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day in Abuja,  Ayokunle, who was represented by CAN’s National Director for Education, Youth/Women Development, Pastor Omonuwa Ogiemudia, stressed the need for the Federal Government to heed the demands of Nigerian women for greater inclusion, stressing that they are agents of peace and prosperity in the society. He was quoted: “Women are the reason there’s relative peace in the country. They love peace and will always seek after it. That is why our leaders need the right kinds of women to advise them. If our leaders can listen to the advice of women, our nation will get better. It is very important.”

The demands for inclusion for Women has been rising with some degree of reasonable arguments. The need to give consideration to the views is pertinent. While a State as Lagos has given attention to the 35percent Affirmative Action, others are still very far from the purview. To some Government stakeholders who believe in the course, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, growth and development would take reasonable course only when the potentials of men and women are synchronised and optimised. Meanwhile, some believe that women do have a role to play to fit in competitively by developing their capacities. According to All Progressives Congress’ Women Leader, Lagos, Hon. Jumoke Okoya, women do have roles to play in developing capacities to compete effectively within the space of decision making roles. In her view, while the need to have policies and legislations that are gender sensitive was sacrosanct,  women must become assertive in lobbying as men would do, to have their ways.

The women advocacy course for inclusiveness has its advantages without a thought of doubt. It is pertinent that as the debate moves on, all stakeholders particularly at the echelons of the legislative and executive chambers, prioritise the need to craft out structures to appeal to the rising demands.