Connect with us

Politics

Oduah, Bruce disown colleagues over gender equality bill

Published

on

Senators Stella Oduah and Ben Murray-Bruce have both dissociated themselves from the actions of their colleagues over the gender equality bill, that was rejected on the floor on Tuesday.

Both senators through separate means expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of Senators who shot down the bill, and assured that they would give their support to it when next it is re introduced.

The Senate had rejected the bill seeking to empower women politically and economically, as well as grant them equal opportunities with men in diverse human endeavours, an action which generated a lot of criticisms for the upper chamber with Nigerians labelling it anti-women.

Senator Oduah, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, in a statement, criticised her colleagues for shutting down the bill, and called for understanding from Nigerians, particularly her colleagues that the bill is not an issue bordering on patriarchy.

She noted that women are first of all human beings who have rights, before their ultimate role as mothers and therefore should be allowed equal opportunities.

She also said the country should go beyond empowering of women to empowering the society since it is not in doubt that Nigeria has untapped potentials in women which must be explored.

She described as unacceptable, the fact that the country was still discussing equal right for women in 2016.
On his part, Senator Murray-Bruce representing Bayelsa East constituency, also expressed support for the Gender Equality Bill, noting, that he was not in the chambers when the Bill came up for debate

Read also: Replacement for Lai Mohammed: Your statement was reckless, Timi Frank tells Oyegun

 

Murray-Bruce made his position known in a tweet on Thursday, stating, that “I support the Gender Equality #GEOBill”.

“I was abroad with my Senate Cttee when it came up, but I’ve gotten assurances it will be represented”, he tweeted.

Also, a group, the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) said the Senate move on the bill did not come as a surprise” given the consistent indications of trivializing gender related issues observed in the present political dispensation in Nigeria which also has the lowest representation of women in key elective and appointive decision making positions since 2007.”

A statement by the NFF signed by Geraldyn Ezeakile noted that “The overwhelming rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill by a male dominated legislature is a clear indication of why more women are needed in decision making positions in order to safeguard the erosion of their rights and welfare.”

Mrs Ezeakile also said that “this is not the change Nigerian women want and voted for”, adding, that “A close examination of the proposed Gender and Equal Opportunities bill shows that it seeks to guarantee the rights of women to access; equal opportunities in employment; equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children; equal rights for women in marriage and divorce, equal access to education, property/land ownership and inheritance; protects the rights of widows and guarantee appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and the prohibition of violence towards women.

“Why the majority of the Nigerian senators voted against the bill is beyond the rational of our understanding”, the group stated.

 

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now