2023: ‘Government aims to chart new agenda for women’ – Minister
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, says the Federal Government aims to chart a new agenda for Nigerian women in a quest for improved political participation ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She said this in New York on the virtual sideline meeting of the ongoing 66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) that the government would soon inaugurate a “Women Reconnect Initiative” to achieve the purpose.
.@UN_Women‘s @UN_CSW 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women isn’t over yet! Tune in to learn about #genderequality in the context of #climatechange. #CSW66 https://t.co/f4zIn8p5CZ
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Addressing Women’s Political Growth
The minister said the initiative would address some of the emerging issues affecting the growth and development of women in Nigeria, particularly in the political and economic spheres.
“In a few weeks, we will flag off a National Women’s Movement under the Women Reconnect for New Nigeria Initiative (WR4NNI).
“It is proposed as a social mobilisation and sensitisation movement to galvanise women to fully and equitably participate in the processes leading up to the 2023 general elections and beyond,” she said.
Re-introducing Structural Programs
According to her, through the process, the country will re-introduce existing structures put in place by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
“These existing structures include the G-100 Women Lobby Group, the Nigeria Women Trust Fund, the 6 Zonal Women Political Offices spread across the zones to make them more responsive.
“We are looking for development partners and donor communities to support the program changing the narratives for our women come 2023.
“Also, Social Protection Policy is being reviewed, Domestication of outstanding International instruments Gender Equality, Amendment of the constitution, Harmonisation of gender equity issues, Institutionalisation of Regional Affirmative action 50:50, The Africa we want.”
The Minister’s Perspective on Inclusivity Constraints
The minister, however, noted that despite inclusive policies, Nigeria has a long road to gender inequality, with records of deaths, poverty, and political disenfranchisement prevalent for women.
Other emerging issues affecting the growth and development of women in Nigeria, she said, were the rejection of the 5-Gender Inclusion Bills by the National Assembly.
“Negative Impact of COVID-19 on women, e.g., increased in Gender-Based Violence, nearly 90 million Nigerians experience extreme poverty and 70 percent of that population that lives in extreme poverty are women and girls.
“While women accounted for most of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, they represent only 13 percent of agricultural landowners.
” In addition, she said political exclusion and education parity were some other gender issues experienced by Nigerian women.
The Follow Up
The minister stated that the Nigerian government was following up on the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act in remaining states across the country.
“The government is also following the He4She project, developing a National Policy on Women Economic Empowerment and developing legislation and frameworks to guide 35 percent affirmative action in the country.
“The government is developing a framework to guide 35 percent affirmative action, especially with the ongoing Constitution review at the National Assembly.
“The review will include several other gender-sensitive legislation in terms of Affirmative action, issues of human rights, etc.
“Also, the ministry’s high-level advocacy to the three tiers of governance towards ensuring that Nigerian Women get their rightful place in the scheme of National Development.
“We are on the verge of putting in place a strategic Women’s movement which can harness previous efforts and galvanize action towards spearheading a new agenda for Nigerian women, towards our quest for women’s political participation,” she affirmed.
Nigeria’s Gender Policy Development Scorecard
The minister said Nigeria is rated high based on implementing some of the international and regional protocols on gender policy development.
“A recent critical evaluation on the environment, climate change, and gender policy development scored Nigeria high regarding legal frameworks.
“Legal frameworks that promote, enforce, and monitor gender equality, to guarantee inclusivity of all groups in the formulation and implementation of climate change initiatives, programs, and policies in the country,” she said.
NAN/Suzan O.
