The issue of gender balance in politics and governance is an important and sensitive subject matter. The population of women and the potential influence to shape national development cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand. However, the advocacy to get more women into important positions in government has not yielded the desired fruits. And
The issue of gender balance in politics and governance is an important and sensitive subject matter. The population of women and the potential influence to shape national development cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand. However, the advocacy to get more women into important positions in government has not yielded the desired fruits. And the voices of the few fighting their way to the top are often drowned by the numbers.
Chief Facilitator, Equity Advocates, Dr. Ene Ede on Monday X-rayed the performance of female legislators in the National Assembly and concluded that their voices diminished because the odds are too much for federal female legislators. She lamented: “The political terrain is wicked, unrighteous, very vicious, very vindictive and repulsive for women. It hates women to progress”.
There are four female Senators out of 109 and 16 female House of Representatives members out of 360. This is about 3.6 percent and 4.7 percent respectively. The four Senators are Ireti Heebah Kingibe (FCT) Labour Party, Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Lagos) All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduagan, (Kogi Central) Peoples Democratic Party.
For the House of Representatives, there are Honourables Regina Akume (Benue APC) Gboko/Tarka, Maureen Chinwe Gwacham (AnambraAPGA)Oyi/Ayamelum, Marie Enenimiete Ebikake (Bayelsa PDP) Brass/Nembe, Zainab Gimba (Borno APC) Bama/ Ngale/Kaa-Balge, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu(Delta PDP)Ethiope East/Ethiope West, Mariam Onuoha (Imo APC) Isiala Mbano/Ok Igwe/Onuimo, and Kafilat Ogbara (Lagos APC).
Others are; Oriyomi Onanuga (Ogunsola APC) Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North, Beni Butmak Lar (Plateau PDP) Langtang North/Langtang South, Boma Goodhead (Rivers PDP) Akuku -Toru/Asari-Toru, and Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim (Yobe APC) Damaturu/Gujba Galani/Tar
The remaining female legislators are Fatima Talba (Yobe APC) Nangere/Potiskum, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (Oyo APC) Oluyole, Chinwe Clara Nnabuife(Anambra) Orumba North/Orumba South, Blessing On uh(Benue APC)Otukpo/Ohimini and Lilian Obiageli Orugbu(Anambra)Awka North/Awka South.
Explaining why female legislators’ voices are often not heard, Dr. Ede said: “Lately, their voices had to diminish, how many of them are in the Senate, only four? Is it Senator Ireti Kingibe that will raise her voice when Mr Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister has launched a war on her from the community? Then the Senate President who may be using the gavel to gang up against her? For God’s sake, how will that happen? Senator Ireti Kingibe looks like a 40-year-old woman, very elegant, very brilliant, and has a good background, but her voice has been drowned. People are calling her names but they don’t understand the conspiracy, and the wickedness and the unrighteousness within those places”.
She alleged that female parliamentarians are being discriminated against and pressure piled up against them to compromise their moral standards.
Perhaps to confirm her allegation of discrimination against women in the National Assembly, the Senator representing the FCT in the Senate, Senator Kingibe early in June during the discussion on the FCT Supplementary budget lamented that as the highest elected political office holder from the FCT, she had no input in the budget which she alleged was done secretly.
This to Dr. Ede meant a lot. Her words: “So, how do you want her to succeed? Is it now that she is over 70 that you will want to sleep with her before she can secure a position? Is it Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduagan, is she going to abandon her husband? Is it the Senator from Rivers State who managed to survive for eight years under Wike that will raise her voice? She will be thrown out of there. She will be frustrated. Or is it the one from Lagos? The odds are too many “.
Her position on why female legislators are perceived as not pulling their weight was endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer/ Founder of TAF Africa, Mr. Jake Epelle who said female federal lawmakers are pulling their weight stressing: “except that they are few. Their number is few, so you can hardly hear their voice whether they are making an impact or not”.
Hear him:” When you have a very minute number of people, even when they raise their voice you won’t hear. That brings us to the fact that there is a need to give more women the opportunity either by affirmative action which I support or by way of appointment which Kenya is a good example and in several other countries, otherwise you won’t hear their voice”.
As gender equality continues to be a significant topic of discussion worldwide, the role of female national legislators has come under scrutiny. Are they making substantial contributions to the legislative process, or is their presence in the National Assembly merely symbolic?
In recent years, there has been a notable decline in the number of women elected to national legislative bodies. This trend is a negative step toward gender equality, reflecting a societal fixated mindset and the growing suspicion of women’s capabilities in leadership roles. Many countries have, however, implemented quotas or other measures to ensure female representation, aiming to bridge the historical gender gap in politics.
A detailed analysis of legislative activities by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) reveals that female legislators in the 9th Assembly are actively participating in the National Assembly’s proceedings. They sponsor and co-sponsor bills, engage in debates and serve on various committees. Studies have shown that female legislators often prioritize issues such as education, healthcare, family welfare, and gender equality—areas that have a profound impact on society.
Despite their active participation, female legislators face significant challenges. Gender bias remains pervasive, with women often having to prove their competence more than their male counterparts. They encounter stereotypes that question their leadership abilities and face obstacles in gaining influential committee positions or leadership roles within the Assembly. Additionally, the political arena can be a hostile environment, with female legislators experiencing higher levels of harassment and discrimination.
Public Perception
Public perception of female legislators varies. While there is growing support for gender diversity in politics, some segments of society remain skeptical about women’s effectiveness in these roles. Public opinion often mirrors broader societal attitudes toward gender roles, which can either hinder or support female legislators’ efforts.
The Independent National Electoral Commission in its 2023 General Election Report explained that:” although much remains to be done to deepen and expand inclusivity of youth, women, and people with disability in the electoral process, substantial progress has been made by the Commission and it is committed to continuing this effort in the coming Electoral cycles.
The European Union Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023 Second preliminary statement on March 2023 lamented that “some 11,000 candidates were competing for state elections, among whom a bare 10 percent were women. Notably, leading political parties fielded only female candidates for highly prized governor seats. This demonstrates a radical underrepresentation of women in political life and a lack of internal party policies to support constitutionally prescribed inclusion and it is contrary to Nigeria’s international commitment to eradicate discrimination against women.
However, female national legislators are indeed pulling their weight in the National Assembly. They are not only active participants in legislative processes but also play a crucial role in shaping policies that benefit society at large. However, for their contributions to be fully recognized and appreciated, ongoing efforts are needed to address the challenges they face and to continue promoting gender equality in politics.
The future of female representation in the National Assembly looks promising, with more women stepping up to lead and influence the political landscape. As society progresses toward greater gender equality, the impact of female legislators will undoubtedly become even more significant, ensuring that the voices of all citizens are heard and respected in the halls of power.
X-Raying the Individual Female Scorecard
In the next report, the NDR will zero in on the individual performances of the female legislators at the national level; showcasing the positions they hold as chairpersons or vice and the bills they sponsor or co-sponsor.
