House of Representatives Promises to Enhance Gender Equality

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The House of Representatives has promised to work at reducing inequalities and enhancing the participation of all genders in socio-economic and political development of the country.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, reiterated this commitment at the roundtable yesterday  in Abuja and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between United Nations, UN Women and Media Executives to escalate media intervention and provide a media platform to enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.

Represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Women in Parliament, Hon. Fatima Talba (APC, Yobe), the Speaker noted that part of the Green Chamber’s efforts in that regard was the re-introduction of the ‘Gender Equal Opportunities’ Bill which failed in the 9th Assembly as well as other critical legislations required to dismantle barriers to women’s economic and political inclusion.

He said the House has equally signed MoUs with various women advocacy groups including the Office of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (UN-CEDAW) to enhance legislations and other interventions on issues of women economic and political inclusion.

He also noted that the bill to create special seats in the National Assembly and State Assemblies also passed second reading on the floor of the House on July 10, 2024.

He said: “It is an honour to be with you today to celebrate the significant milestone of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and Media Executives.

“This partnership aims at providing media platforms to amplify and escalate media interventions in advancing women’s political participation and inclusion as we look ahead to the 2027 general elections.

“Politically, the current representation of women in Nigeria’s parliament is alarmingly low, standing at less than five per cent. This situation is unacceptable and must change by the next electoral cycle.”

He added: “The media has a crucial role to play in not only highlighting the barriers to women inclusion but also in advancing these efforts, and in holding us accountable and providing insights into where progress is being made and where more effort is needed.”

This was as different women groups at the event unanimously recommended that the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government should consider amendment of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and not its repeal.

A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, and Enact the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2024 seeking holistic reform of the law to be in line with the realities of societal change and drafting standards to effective dispensation of justice, is the currently before the National Assembly.

In the resolution, read by Media Consultant to the UN Women, Moji Makanjuola, the women said: “The Nigerian women at a meeting convened on Abuja Continental Hotel today, September the 17th, 2024 recommend to the National Assembly and the Executive to consider an Amendment to VAP Bill not a repeal.”

In her opening remarks, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, lamented that globally, one in every 10 women lives in extreme poverty, adding that projections indicate that 342.4 million women and girls will not have moved out of extreme poverty by 2030 unless the current trends are shifted.

Eyong said the percentages could be higher for countries like Nigeria where the gap between the few rich and a majority poor continues to widen, lamenting the representation of women in Nigeria’s parliament, where critical policies and laws are made that is just about  four per cent with only 17 per cent of them serving as ministers in the federal executive council.

According to Eyong, “These are challenges that we must all join hands together to surmount. This is where you, as media practitioners come in. But the question is, how much is being done by the media to advocate for more women representation and inclusion in appointive and elective positions in Nigeria?

“What can media do differently to improve the chances of more women joining politics and winning in the next elections? These are challenges we must all respond to as women and gender champions in the media sector.”

Eyong noted that: “UN Women invests in enhancing personal resilience and professional development of women to increase their contribution in leadership, economic growth, peace, security and in humanitarian nexus. UN Women believes that investing in women equals to investing in the architecture of the society.

“We do know that no nation can develop and prosper if women are excluded. Our support is guided by shared value, mutual respect and common vision of the government and the people of Nigeria.”