“Truly is woman taken from man (Genesis 2:22) nevertheless, the woman is not to be trampled upon. Woman truly is to be submissive (Ephesians 5:22) to the husband at home, it is for the family peace and happiness (Ephesians 3:1).”
Reverend Fadipe of Kwara state overseer for Apostolic Faith Church who spoke with The Informant247 on gender equality, said, “In term of work the woman is given the power by God to do whatever work a man can do. In administrative wise, a woman have the full right to govern the affairs of others as far as God has chosen her and leading her, a good example is Deborah in the Bible who stood right to lead the people according to the will of God even when the man, Barak is afraid and dismay.
“Deborah as a strong woman choose by God even led the people to fight a battle even being a woman (Judges 4:4-25). About the governance if the people, a woman can govern the people well if it is God’s will, we have Margret Stacia of England who as the former Prime Minister did so well.”
The bill seeking to promote women empowerment and gender equality was rejected at the Hallowed Chamber last week Thursday, due to reasons related to socio-cultural, ethnicity and religion.
It would be recalled that Senator Biodun Olujimi, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ekiti South, sponsored a bill titled: “A bill for an Act to make provisions for the empowerment of women and gender equality and to establish a legislative framework for the empowerment of women”.
The bill, which was first brought to the Senate during the 7th Assembly, had earlier been killed in both the 7th and 8th Senate.
Senator Olujimi emphasized that the same bill she sponsored in the Eight Senate suffered same fate. Although she explained that the proposed legislation was targeted at ending discrimination against the female gender.
During the presentation, there were disagreements among senators that led to the subsequent withdrawal of the bill.
‘It will allow the domestication of all forms of discrimination against women’
According to the sponsor, the bill is designed to align all aspects and implementation of laws relating to women empowerment as well as address issues relating to appointments and representation of women in decision making, positions and structures.
Olujimi said, among others: “This bill seeks to further strengthen section 42 of the constitution. It seeks to eliminate gender-based violence. This bill was read for the first time in 2019.
“It will allow the domestication of all forms of discrimination against women. It will provide for the equality of all persons. If enacted, it will prohibit all forms of discrimination against women and persons living with disabilities.
“This bill will provide a legal basis and foundation upon which there will be formal, structured and institutional responses to prevent discrimination and provide for the rights of men and women, the equality of all persons and opportunities availed to all citizens, including people living with disability in Nigeria.’’
‘For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn’
Also, speaking with The Informant247 on this, Dr. Mahmud Danjuma Musa, a lecturer from the department of Arabic, University of Ilorin, said, “The Islamic religious view on gender equality is affirmed by Allah in Qur’ān but with special peculiarities to each gender. In faith and piety, there is common equality, but in other activities, there are peculiarities.
“Human beings, We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-fearing of you.Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.(49:13).
“For instance, both genders equally establish the five pillars of Islam based on their peculiarities except for bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (S.A.W) is His messenger.
“However, salat, zakat, fast, and pilgrimage are to be equally established but with some peculiarities; females are relieved in some aspects while males are obliged to carry out 100% of the activities.
“Both genders are entitled to marriage and divorce but concerning some peculiarities. Both are equally entitled to teaching, learning, sporting, trading, etc.
“Do not wish for the bounty which Allah has preferred one of you above another. For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn. Ask Allah of His Bounty. Allah has knowledge of all things. Q4 vs 32″
Musa, who is the Founder of Al-maqam Islamic Foundation and Chief Imām, ‘ibādur Rahman Central Mosque Oko-erin, Ilorin, further said that women play crucial advisory roles in making policies that affect children and females in general because they have in-depth knowledge about them.
According to the Chief Imam, “There would be mixed feelings from the side of some men who might think the law will expose their female children and women to danger. The government is strongly advised to take care of the peculiarities and limitations of both genders.”
‘Gender equality is a fundamental human right’
In a related development, the Director Theios Caregivers Initiative, Anthonia Erinfolami-Daniel Esq, who spoke on the importance of gender equality to the society, said, “Gender equality can also be called sexual equality or equality of the sexes. It is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender.
“Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable World. It prevents violence against women and girls and good for the economy.
“Gender equality is a human right. It makes our communities safer, peaceful and healthier. I don’t see any implications of gender equality to the society as the benefits are encompassing.
“When everyone is treated equal, it allows for development of such society and it will give opportunity for women to explore their full potentials. Most women have a lot to offer but can’t because the opportunity is not there.
“The essence of gender equality is to foster development in the society. Women are seen as multi tasking unlike men. It is also to foster peaceful cohabitation as it is kicks against all forms of Violence against women (at home, workplace and society).”
However, four senators disagreed with the sponsor after she rounded off presentation of the lead debate.
In their arguments, senators who vehemently kicked against it, said the bill, if passed into law, would offend the sensibilities of a certain religion, and make it unimplementable in some parts of the country.
On the contrary, senators who supported the bill, believed it should go for second reading, so the inputs of the stakeholders could be accommodated.
Senator Yusuf Yusuf, All Progressives Congress, APC, Taraba Central, argued that the equality of the male and female gender “infringes on the Quran.’’
He said: “This equality infringes on the Quran. I will not support the passage of the bill until the word equal is removed. When you bring equality into it, it infringes on the Quran.”
Also kicking against the bill, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, APC, Sokoto North, said the equality was wrong when it came to Islamic and socio-cultural practices.
“When it comes to socio-cultural practices, it is wrong. When you talk of equity, it is okay; when you talk of equality, it is not. I will not support it.”
Senator Adamu Abdullahi, APC, Nasarawa West, urged the Senate to totally step it down, while Senators Oluremi Tinubu, APC, Lagos West and Bala Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South, called for its withdrawal to give room for further consultations.
Supporting the bill, Senator Istifanus Gyang, PDP, Plateau North, said women were entitled to equal opportunities, and threw his support for the bill.
“Women have been at the receiving end of being excluded. Women are entitled to equal opportunities. Being a woman is not being less human,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said the bill should be allowed to go for second reading, pointing out that the concerns raised by Yusuf and Wamakko would be addressed at the public hearing.
Omo-Agege said: “With the feelers I’m getting from the chambers, it appears the consultation has not gone far enough. I want to plead that this bill should not be killed here but be allowed to go for public hearing, so if there is anything that Senator Olujimi missed, it will be addressed.”
Senators James Manager, PDP, Delta South and Ajibola Basiru, APC, Osun Central, said the bill should be allowed to scale second reading.
The development degenerated into a heated debate and the majority opinion, including that of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, was that the sponsor should consult widely and re-present the bill after removing areas of serious concerns raised by the lawmakers.
Even when Olujimi amended the title from A bill for an Act to make provisions for the empowerment of women and gender equality and to establish a legislative framework for the empowerment of women” to Gender Equality Bill, the bill was still killed.