The gender
and equal opportunity proposed bill has been rejected by the Nigerian Senate.
The
bill was proposed by Senator Abiodun Olujimi and titled “Gender Parity and
Prohibition of Violence against Women”. Senator
Abiodun pointed out that the bill was to eliminate gender based violence and ensure equal rights for women in
inheritance, marriage, divorce, property and land ownership.
It should be noteworthy to
mention that that the Nigerian Senate has only seven women out of the 109
Senate members. This proposed bill has sprung debates within different factions. Some argue that the bill is not suitable with
Nigerian’s religious and traditional/cultural beliefs. While others argue that
women’s rights are already being recognised. Some also argued that the bill
will clash with the constitution of Nigeria. The decision by the senate to abandon the bill has been widely criticised.
We Nigerians need
to change our mind set and be more open to positive changes in our society. In my
opinion, the bill was doomed for a whole lot of reasons. In most Nigerian
homes, priority has always been placed on the men. Women have been made to feel
inadequate if they do not have a male child. Also, children especially girls in
some household have been taught that their brothers are more “special” and
heirs to the family’s property. There are also widely used concepts such as “a
woman’s place is in the kitchen”, “women are meant to be seen not heard”. In some
customs, women are viewed as properties. Hence, all these and more do not help
the arguments for gender equality and opportunity.
Let us not
forget the case of Ese Oruru and Patience Paul. We should have in place, solid
laws and regulations for our citizens that should be above religious and
cultural beliefs. The senate president has said that, the bill will be
reintroduced. Let us all hope that the bill would not die a natural death.
What is your
view?
Our women should just remain strong, focused and hardworking, we shall continue to seek knowledge and education, and as well train up our girls with the right standard. We cant just end up in the kitchen!We shall rise above this!
ReplyDeleteI 10udufx
ReplyDeleteYes i believe in women empowerment,its time our women have their voice heard in d society.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from a backward society where majority of its law makers are way too backward and archaic. Women empowerment will not come today or tomorrow but the women's voices have to be heard and women ance to put themselves out there and make a difference. Hopefully one day, the country will get there.
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ReplyDeleteI believe in women empowerment, I have been taught about that all through my law degree prog and at law skool. People or women are wiser now and things are changing . We as women don't really need to wait for bill to be successfully passed n recognized before we act or know what is right and just. It is a right, human right that we shld be treated equally! As a woman I know my rights, I know what I want and also I know d limits of what I shld do as a woman, a wife, a mother and a daughter . Let us also hope that women , "African women" don't exceed their limits and begin to do things dat are morally wrong .
ReplyDeleteIt's all for a good cause and women are becoming more visible in the society and the world now. My take on this...it was rushed and put out there all at once. They should have eased it in gradually into the society. For example, starting with all women must get an education, also appropriating seats for women in government. Putting out plans for the Nigerian women...stop female mutilation, child marriages, gender discrimination in the workplaces, etc, stop violence against women in the homes... I believe a gradual sensitization of all these factors would have been a good foundation to set this bill upon. It won't happen overnight, and all of a sudden...but it will happen!
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmm. So why was the bill rejected? me think it was rejected cos they feel threatened by women and the kind of power they would most likely yield. Typical naija men will not give into anything dat will take away their traditional role but forgetting that their wives, mothers, daughters and daughter in-laws and women generally will benefit from it. I hope they pass it soon sha.
ReplyDeleteA pray to see the day women not live a 'second best' life
ReplyDeleteWe actually need a bill that protects the rights of women. I think that we cannot be seen or heard saying that we do not need a bill. Of course we do because without one, it is difficult to get redress, case in point; Ese. Did the police and law enforcement agencies actually need 6 months to make arrests and rescue her? I don't know why men are feeling threatened. People should think about their mothers, wives, daughters and granddaughters. I hope that the bill can be reviewed and revived, and considered. Does collecting signatures work in Nigeria? If it does, we could try collecting enough to allow for a re-presentation of the bill in the National Assembly? I would be shocked though
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