Stakeholders in Ebonyi State are urging the state government to take swift action and adopt the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill once it becomes law. This call came from a recent event held in Abakaliki, organized by the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) in partnership with UN Women and funded by the Government of Canada.
The event featured a roundtable discussion with participants from various sectors, including political parties, civil society organizations, religious groups, and government ministries. During this meeting, there was a strong endorsement of the HeForShe Initiatives, a global movement that promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The consensus was clear: the Ebonyi State government should ensure that 40 percent of both elective and appointive positions are allocated to women.
The Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, which has made significant progress in the Senate, proposes the creation of 111 special seats reserved exclusively for women in the National Assembly.
This bill aims to amend several sections of the 1999 Constitution to improve gender representation and ensure equal opportunities for women in politics. It has successfully passed its second reading in the Senate, with 74 special seats approved at this stage.
Once the bill is passed into law, it will be implemented in the 11th Assembly and reviewed every 16 years to assess its impact and effectiveness. This legislative move is seen as a crucial step towards achieving gender parity in political representation.
Mrs. Nkechi Igwe, the programme lead for WACOL, highlighted the critical need for constitutional and legislative reforms at the state level to complement the national efforts.
She emphasized the importance of forming alliances with supportive men in political parties and government offices to enhance women’s participation in politics by 2027.
“The state government must not only support the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill at the national level but also ensure its swift domestication within Ebonyi. We are advocating for 40 percent of all elective and appointive positions in the state to be reserved for women,” Igwe asserted.
Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, praised the bill as an essential tool for creating a fair and inclusive society.
She proposed several strategies to boost women’s political involvement, including leadership training programs, policy reforms to ensure gender balance, and public campaigns aimed at challenging societal stereotypes. Nwankpuma also stressed the need for building robust networks of women leaders to mentor and support aspiring female politicians.
Reverend Scamb Nwokolo, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ebonyi State, urged women to support their peers in political endeavors. He called for a shift in mindset to eliminate jealousy and foster mutual support among women pursuing political careers.
Dr. Ben Odoh, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice expressed strong support for the bill and assured that his ministry would provide the necessary legal backing and advocacy to ensure the bill’s passage and effective implementation.
Additionally, Mrs. Nwogbaga Mercy, chairperson of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), shared her personal experience of workplace discrimination, recounting how she was compelled to resign from the State Security Service (SSS) due to pregnancy.
She emphasized the need for the bill’s adoption in Ebonyi State to protect women from such injustices and ensure a more equitable environment for all.
This collective effort reflects a strong commitment to advancing gender equality and creating a more inclusive political landscape in Ebonyi State.
