The Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN), has urged the 10th National Assembly to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, which it insists was crucial to the progress of the country.
The Bill first introduced in 2006 by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with the backing of numerous regional and global organizations, has continued to suffer rejection the latest being from Senate of the 9th Assembly under claims of incompatibility with the religious and cultural beliefs of majority of Nigerians..
Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Antonia Simbine who spoke during the Academy’s 2024 distinguished public lecture on “Nigeria: The Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and Democratic Deepening” in Abuja, noted that a major problem impeding Nigeria’s progress as a nation was gender inequality.
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Simbine who regretted that women who constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population remain underrepresented in the political, economic and social space, argued that the Bill if passed, would result in inclusive governance, leading to more equitable policies that would benefit the entire society.
She said, “It should be possible for citizens, both men and women, to engage a government that they have elected.
“It is in this context that the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill becomes a legislative tool to actualize the agenda for an inclusive society.
“Obviously one problem that continues to impede our progress as a nation is gender inequality.
“This disparity not only undermines the principles of democracy, but it also hinders our socio economic development, which should be the end goal of democracy.
“A democracy that does not help us to be better, to improve ourselves, to be more prosperous is not actually doing what it is supposed to do.
“The significance of the Bill to Nigeria is crucial, as it aligns also with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nation which supports gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
President of SSAN, Prof. Chike Okolocha who argued that the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill goes beyond some Sections of the Nigerian constitution as referenced by some lawmakers frustrating the Bill.
“This bill was rejected by the Ninth Senate, it’s about how to empower women, bring back the inclusive dimension of politics which is the mainstream of national life generally.
“The bill was immediately rejected because it was claimed that section 42 of the constitution of Nigeria as amended had already guaranteed equal opportunity for everybody but what we are trying to emphasize here is that the Gender and Equal Opportunity bill go beyond the guarantees of Section 42 of the Nigerian constitution.
“Right now, the constitution is being amended. We think passage of the bill will facilitate the status of women in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s population is said to be 233 million right now. Out of that, 110, million are women, and 113 million are men that means we almost have equal number of men and women.
“The moment we continue to join them that almost half of the population is irrelevant so long we will continue wander in the bush.
“So it is important for us to as much as possible bring this significant half of the population into the mainstream.”
