Professional Women in Nigeria (PROWIN) has described as highly disappointing the rejection of gender sensitive bill by the National Assembly as part of the amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
PROWIN in its statement to mark the International Women’s Day stated that women should be recognised and treated with as much dignity as the men.
The statement read in part: “Professional Women in Nigeria (PROWIN) is greatly saddened by the Nigerian National Assembly’s rejection of six key bills directed at ameliorating biases against women at the on-going constitution amendment process.
“It is disheartening that on the first day of International Women’s Month, March 1, 2022, Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly comprising of 94.6% men voted against constitutional amendments that would have greatly impacted Nigerian women. This is a huge blow that has painfully set Nigeria several steps backwards.
“By declining their assent to citizenship to the foreign-born husband of a Nigerian woman while a Nigerian man’s foreign-born wife gets automatic citizenship, women’s ability to take indigeneship of their husband, 35% appointed positions for women, 35% affirmative action in party administration and leadership, specific seats for women in the National Assembly; the National Assembly has in clear terms told Nigerian women that they are irrelevant”.
“The calibre of legislators at the national assembly is apparent and this will only heighten the struggle for actual inclusion of women in a society that has proved to be unrelentingly patriarchal. The theme of this year’s international women’s day celebration is apt and timely for women especially in Nigeria.
“This is a wakeup call for women to take the bull by the horns as we all know that power will not be given to us on a platter of gold. Women must not relent but remain poised to ensure that female gender is recognised and treated with as much dignity as the opposite gender”, the statement further read.
Section 17(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that: “The State social order is founded on ideals of Freedom, Equality and Justice. Subsection (2) states that: “In furtherance of the social order- (a) every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law…”
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