The Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has charged the political authorities in the country, particularly the Legislatures at national and sub-national levels, to create enabling environment by legislation and other policy measures for women and young ladies to improve their participation at all levels of governance for national development.
The President of the organized private sector (OPS) group, Asiwaju (Dr,) Michael Olawale Cole, gave this charge in a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day being marked globally today, 8th of March 2022.
The OPS group pointed out that beyond the speeches and celebrations that mark the annual International Women’s Day, governments should initiate critical policy and social reforms that put gender equality and sustainability at the center of governance, politics, and international affairs.
In addition, the LCCI advocated the need for women to be given equal access to resources for them to add more value to society.
Citing statistical data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which indicated that if women farmers had equal access to productive resources, their farm yields would increase by 20 to 30 percent to justify its stance, the Chamber stated that this could provide enough food to keep 100 to 150 million people from hunger and thereby reducing global hunger to 17 percent.
According to the group, at all levels of government, women’s representation and leadership appear to drive better performance and more sensitive to environmental outcomes, stressing that at the local level, women’s participation in managing natural resources has led to more equitable and inclusive resource management and better conservation outcomes in Nigeria.
This is even as it further noted that in public service, women had proved to be less corrupt than their men folks who have been in the news for the wrong reasons.
The LCCI rued the fact that though Nigerian women constituted nearly half of the population of the country but that despite the major roles they play with their population size, women roles in the society were yet to be given the recognition they deserve.
It attributed the ugly trend partly to some cultural stereotypes, abuse of religion, traditional practices, and patriarchal societal structures.
The LCCI further clarified: “In Nigeria, about 51 percent of women are involved in voting during elections. Despite this, women are still under-represented in both elective and appointive positions. The extant National Gender Policy (NGP) recommended 35% affirmative action and sought for a more inclusive representation of women with at least 35% of both elective political and appointive public service positions.
“Recently, both chambers of the National Assembly were presented with a “Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly””, it added.
The Chamber lamented that it was saddening to see the Bill rejected by majority votes which has led to pockets of protests by women groups across the country and urged the National Assembly to reconsider the rejected bills for a possible review and acceptance for inclusive governance.
It expatiated: “We commend the lawmakers for accepting the “Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide a Minimum Percentage for Women in Ministerial or Commissioner Nominees”.
“We urge the government to leverage this Bill passage to deliberately work toward the inclusion of women in governance as this would give Nigeria international recognition and relevance.
“Political parties should also be sensitive to the provisions of this Bill towards ensuring that deliberate steps are taken to include more women in the running of the parties and offer elective opportunities to women.
“Nigeria, being a signatory to many international treaties that support women in politics like the 35 percent affirmative action, should enact more local laws that support more women participation according to international provisions”, the LCCI advocated.
The United Nations earmarks March 8 every year to celebrate IWD, which is one of the most important days specially dedicated to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural, political and professional career achievements of women as well as a call for accelerating gender parity globally.
The theme of this year’s edition “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” provides an opportunity to join voices with people around the world and shout our message for equal rights and that “Women’s rights are human rights!” This year’s theme is all about recognizing and amplifying the important role women and girls around the world play in addressing climate change for a more sustainable future.
