Nigerian Senators on Tuesday voted against a gender and equal opportunities bill. The bill, which did not pass a second reading, was aimed at bridging the gap between the rights of men and women in Nigeria. It also sought to end questionable and unpleasant stereotypical practices that drive discrimination based on gender.
The bill, titled “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against Women”, was presented by Abiodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti South.
Senator Olujimi, in her lead debate, explained that its purpose was to permit women to have equal rights with men in marriages, education and employment.
While the bill garnered support from some lawmakers, male and female, it ultimately failed to progress on the Senate floor as a majority voted against it. Before voting, various senators who opposed the bill spoke about the incompatibility of the bill with religious laws and beliefs.
Supporting the bill, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, said Nigeria would develop if women were given the same rights men have.
“Only last night, I was going through a document prepared by George Bush of America. Those countries that are doing well are those who give women opportunities.
“Where I come from, women don’t eat egg and are restricted from touching the non-essential parts of animal. But now that has changed. What is needed is time and education, not necessarily legislation. We will continue to encourage our women. I support this bill”, he said.
Senate Majority leader, Ali Ndume, however, criticised the bill, and urged Nigerians to stick with either religious or traditional marriage.
Sani Yerima Ahmed, a senator from Zamfara State, condemned the bill, arguing that it was in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution.
He said the bill negates the principles of the Sharia law, which the Constitution recognises.
The bill was eventually defeated when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, put it to vote.
Senate President now puts the Bill to Vote and the Nays have. The Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill does not pass second reading.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) March 15, 2016
Predictably, the rejection of the bill has resulted in uproar on social media with Nigerians expressing shock and disbelief that the bill, widely regarded as necessary and forward-thinking, was turned down especially among a group of lawmakers believed to be the best collection in years.
As a whole, the bill focuses on eliminating discrimination based on gender in the fields of politics, education and employment. It also prohibits violence—domestic and sexual—against women.
It stated: “in the case of educational placement and school enrolment, including award of scholarships, bursaries, or such allocations, that parity is ensured for boys and girls, men and women”.
It also hoped to achieve “the elimination of gender stereotyping, prejudices, and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes, or the roles for men and women.”
Seeking to modify and ultimately end odious socio-cultural practices that have been long in existence, such as the antagonistic treatment of widows, the bill states that widows “shall not be subjected to inhuman, humiliating or degrading treatment” and “shall have the right to an equitable share in the inheritance of the property of her husband.”
The bill also hoped to ensure more participation of women in politics, a space historically dominated by men. Of Nigeria’s 109 senators, only seven are women even though the country’s population is fairly evenly split along gender lines. A section of the bill sought to “ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right to participate fully in all political activities, including the right to vote and be voted for in all elections and public referenda, and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected offices and bodies without any restriction,
Crucially, the bill was also firm on prohibition of domestic and sexual violence against women and instituting 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage. This is in a bid to tackle a notorious prominence of child brides in Nigeria where, according to UNICEF, 43% of girls are said to be married off before they turn 18. To implement its provisions, a Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission was to be created.
