Nigerians have expressed their displeasure over the non passage of the gender bill by the National Assembly, which majority described as frustrating and disappointing, which goes a long way to widen the degree of inequalities in our Socio Political, Economic, Cultural and other aspect of human endeavour. The Nigerian women fault the National Assembly and the Federal Government for not seeing beyound today, for not passing the Five Gender Bill that would have given Nigerian Women some Political opportunities and usher in administrative parity with the male counterparts.
The coordinator of African Women Lawyers (AWLA) Rivers State chapter, Hilda Desmond Ihekaire says the National Assembly rejection of five bills affecting women equal participation in politics proves that Nigeria is still operating a male based society.
AWLA coordinator in an interview with our reporters said women are not excited because of what is happening in our society. She said the bill is honest and fit to allow certain rights to women, particularly on the issue of citizenship of their husband’s community and removing discriminating practices against widow. She said rejection of the bill is like rejection of women all together.
Mrs Ihekaire further explained that women are neither here nor there, that they are being discriminated in their fathers house, where they asked them to go to their husbands house. And in their husbands house, they are being told that they are not from there but only married there. She however stated that anytime the hindrances are removed, the women will compete favourably with men and may take the lead.
Madam Bisi Olabisi a government teacher in Comprehensive Secondary School,Agbor road, criticised the National Assembly for not passing the Gender Bill, stating that this year’s International Women’s Day would have been the most celebrated had it been the National Assembly lived up to expectation by passing the gender bill. According to her, countries are responding favourably and steadily but Nigeria is still backward in this campaign especially with the recent rejection of the Gender Bill by the National Assembly.
Even the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, blamed the APC government on sit and the National Assembly for rejecting five gender bill that would have given women more political appointments. According to the governor, other countries can celebrate their women but Nigeria can not. Adding that they don’t have female gender equality at heart.
On his part, an elder states man in Rumuorlumeni community Mr Ebenezer Ogbobula says there is need for proper explanation of the proposed bill to the law makers. Mr Ogbobula told our reporters that law makers are not professionals in all respect. So it is the duty of the women to sit with the law makers and take them through the proposed law for them to understand and determine the impact.
Elder Ogbobula further explained that if those bills fails on the floor of National Assembly, it simply means that they need to revisit it or engage members of National Assembly, and explain the proposed bill to them to the point that they will understand and share in that vision. Adding that it is only when they understand a bill that they can pass it into law.
