In a bid to reignite discussions around gender equality, a coalition of gender advocacy groups is set to kick off a social media campaign in Abuja. The campaign aims to reintroduce five gender bills that were previously rejected by the 9th National Assembly. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Palladium, the initiative seeks to engage various stakeholders, including political leaders, legislators, women in politics, and the general public.
The coalition comprises Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Womanifesto, National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA), Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GCRN), SAGE, and Gender Mobile. The campaign will leverage hashtags and a signature drive to create awareness and generate support for the passage of the five gender bills in Nigeria.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founder and Executive Director of WARDC, emphasized the dishearteningly low representation of women in leadership roles, both elective and appointive. The campaign aims to address gender gaps in the 1999 Constitution, highlighting provisions that perpetuate bias, such as the silence on women’s rights to confer citizenship.
The five gender bills cover diverse aspects, including special seats for women in the national assembly, a 35% affirmative action for women in political party administration, granting citizenship to foreign-born husbands of Nigerian women, choice of state of origin for married women, and a ten percent affirmative action for women in ministerial appointments.
These bills were rejected by the 9th National Assembly in 2022, leading to protests and advocacy efforts by groups like Womanifesto. The gender cluster group formed thereafter has continued its advocacy through media awareness and visits to highlight the bills’ impact on Nigerian women.
The coalition aims to vet the bills for passage into law by 2024, aligning with the United Nations’ emphasis on gender equality as a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful and prosperous society. The campaign launch, scheduled for November 28, will involve key influencers and stakeholders, including Deputy Speaker Retd Hon Benjamin Kalu and Retd Honourable Nkiru Onyejeocha.
