National President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala, has said the attainment of gender equality will remain an illusion except a pragmatic approach towards attaining and balancing gender-related issues in the country is adopted and respected by all.
She this in a press release to congratulate Nigerian women on the occasion of the celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day.
Bala said the 2022 edition would have been one of the best to be celebrated, not just by women in Nigeria, but also by development partners as well as gender activists, if the hope of the Constitution Amendment on Gender Bills had not been dashed by the National Assembly.
“In fact, history would have been made by the ninth National Assembly as the legislature that allowed the true definition of democracy to take it roots in Nigeria, but the members chose the path of exclusion and discriminatory agenda against Nigerian women and girls.
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“The sad and unacceptable rejection of the five gender Bills that speak to the issues against women, especially discrimation and exclusion from involvement in governance and contribution to nation-building, is not only shameful and retrogressive, but a huge tragedy in the development space of Nigeria and the eye of the global community.
“No nation that excludes more than 50 per cent of a segment of its demography can develop as expected,” the NAWOJ national president stated.
She however said it is pertinent to appeal to members of the federal legislature to, as a matter of urgency, necessity and in the interest of the spirit and letters of democracy, to discard their earlier posture and allow for the gender bills to be re-represented and passed into law.
“NAWOJ leadership also calls on all Nigerian women to rise and demand from their representatives the fulfilment of the social contract of effective representation they signed.
“It is equally instructive to note that the fight towards ensuring that Nigeria corrects the wrongs requires the support of patriotic men who believe in a better Nigeria.
“Until the gender bills are reconsidered and passed into law, Nigeria cannot be seen or considered to be a full democratic nation. The time to stop gender discrimination and biases is now,” she said.
The NAWOJ president noted that it is only by doing so that “Attaining Gender Equality Today for a sustainable Tomorrow”, which is the theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day, can become a reality.
