A true democratic society fosters respect for all citizens, equality, inclusiveness, freedom of speech, the right to make individual choices, and to live free of fear or discrimination, but in Nigeria, there had been a sustained poor representation and the gender imbalance of women in critical areas.
The Nigerian constitution, which is regarded as the grundnorm because of its overriding effect on all other laws provides for the right to freedom from discrimination ~ Section 42 CFRN, yet there are in existence few discriminatory Nigerian laws implemented against women in our alleged democratic society.
By way of illustration, a woman police officer (not applicable to men) cannot marry without seeking permission from the Commissioner of Police, and a woman who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the force. ~ Section 124 Police Act. What’s more, Section 55 of the Penal Code allows husbands in some parts of Nigeria to “correct” their wives as long as it does not lead to grievous bodily harm.
It is also of great concern to note that citizenship is conferred on a foreign woman married to a citizen of Nigeria (man) but the same provision is not made for a foreign man married to a Nigerian woman. Section 26 CFRN.
Equally, the discrimination is well extended in leadership. premium times reported that in the House of Representatives, out of 360 members, only 18 are women (4.61%) while in the Senate, there are 8 women out of 109 members (7.34%). Premium Times 2022, Low Number of Women In Politics, Bane of Nigeria’s Development- Minister, accessed 14 September 20222, <https:/www.premiumtimesng,com/news/more-news/528219-low-number-of-women-in-politics-bane-of-nigerias-development-minister.html/>
A number of women have spoken up on this issue. According to Njideka Harry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF), if Nigerian women had the same opportunities as men, they could drive up the GDP by $13.9 billion, while Tian Wei, CCTV News, is quoted to have said, “Any society that fails to harness the energy and creativity of its women is at a huge disadvantage in the modern world.”
The reasons that could be cited for the inequality in the Nigerian democratic society can be traced to the sexual stereotype of social roles, discriminatory traditions, and cultural prejudices.
It is pertinent to note that “if they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” according to Shirley Chrisholm, the First African-American woman elected to the US Congress.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
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