National Assembly Bows, Passes Gender Bills As NAWOJ Says Women’s Day Incomplete Without Bills

By Ayodele Oni

As a mark of honour for the womenfolk to mark this year’s International Women’s Day Celebrations, the House of Representatives has rescinded its decisions on three  constitution amendment bills, which centred on women.

The House had, previously, rejected the Bills after majority of its members voted against them.

Some women groups and organizations had, last week, laid seige on the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja to protest against the rejection of the Bills.

First Lady, Aisha Buhari,  and the of the Vice President’s wife, Dolapo Osinbajo,  had,  several times, while debate was ongoing on on the Bills, visited the Legislative House to drum support.

The affected bills are 35 percent Affirmative, Citizenship, and Indigeneship Bills.

The three Bills are gender- based which were voted against during the constitution amendment.

Also on Tuesday, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) congratulated Nigerian women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

NAWOJ said in a statement that “Though the celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day would have been one of the best to be celebrated, by not just women in Nigeria, but development partners, as well as gender activists, if the hope of the constitution amendment on gender bills had not been dashed by the National Assembly.

“In fact, history would have been made by the 9th Assembly as the legislature that allowed the true definition of  democracy to take it roots in Nigeria, but members chose the path of exclusion and discriminatory agenda against Nigerian women and girls.

“The sad and unacceptable rejection of the five gender bills that speak to the issues against women, especially  discrimation and exclusion from involvement in governance and contribution to nation building, is not only shameful, retrogresive, but a huge tragedy in the development space of Nigeria and the eye of the global community .

The statement, signed by national President if NAWOJ, Ladi Bala insisted that “No nation that excludes more than 50 percent of a segment of its demography can develop as expected.

“It is therefore pertinent to appeal to members of the federal legislature to as a matter of urgency, necessity and in the interest of the spirit and letters of democracy to discard their earlier posture and allow for the Gender bills to be re-represented and passed into law.

“NAWOJ leadership also calls on all Nigerian women to rise and demand from their representatives the fulfilment of the social contract of effective representation they signed.

“It is equally instructive to note that the fight towards ensuring that Nigeria corrects the wrongs requires the support of patriotic men who believe in a better Nigeria.

“Until the Gender bills are reconsidered and passed into law, Nigeria cannot be seen or considered to be a full democratic nation. The time to stop Gender discrimination and biases is now.

“Attaining Gender Equality Today for a sustainable Tomorrow” which is the theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day, will remain an Illusion in Nigeria, except a pragmatic approach towards attaining and balancing Gender related issues in the country is adopted and respected by all.”