NNEW decries non-passage of gender equality bill

NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has expressed disappointment over the dismissal of the Nigerian gender and equal opportunities bill by the Senate, last week Tuesday.

The bill seeks to promote equal opportunities, advancement of all persons, and also eliminate discrimination against any person, irrespective of gender or on any grounds.

But as a result of disagreements, the bill failed to pass the second reading.

The bill titled, “A bill for an act to incorporate and enforce certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the rights of women in Africa, and other matters connected therewith, 2016 (SB. 116)” was sponsored by Biodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District.

Speaking to the press recently, Lola Okanlawon, president, NNEW, said “by throwing out this bill, the Senate seems to give their support to the subtle and increasing discrimination against women in nearly all facets of life in Nigeria.

“The Senate is also ignoring the many illegal obstacles that have been erected using regulatory, socio-cultural, and religious excuses to deprive the women of Nigeria of their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

According to Okanlawon, the rejection of the bill seeks to undermine the remarkable contributions of Nigerian women towards national development.

To the NNEW, this is not the first time that this bill has been shut down by lawmakers who quickly wear the toga of religious and cultural chauvinists whenever matters that border on the economic and political empowerment of women are to be discussed.

“We want to remind the Senate that Nigerian women constitute about 49.09 percent of the population of the country (World Bank Report, 2014) and therefore, it should be of serious concern to them that women are only a minute minority in both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. This, we believe, sealed the fate of that noble Bill. That Bill was about humanity and not just about women, and this should occupy the time and attention of the Senate,” NNEW said.

NNEW therefore called on the Senate to revisit the bill, especially in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while we hold the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, to his promise to reconsider the bill.