To what extent have women been marginalised in Nigerian politics? In this study, the authors confront the idea that the marginalisation of women in politics is a myth, calling it not only wrong, but ill-conceived. It is a fact that women are significantly discriminated against and marginalised, a contention that cites comprehensive empirical data on electoral results in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, together with a brief history of women in electoral politics stretching back to 1960. From this, the authors show that even when compared to some African neighbours, Nigerian women have been consistently under-represented to a significant degree. While gains were made under president Goodluck Jonathan, there are still cultural constraints dating back to colonial times that ensure men have unfettered freedom to pursue matters of religion, economics, social, and political activities, to the detriment of women.
The authors identify other ways in which the gender bias in electoral politics manifests itself, such as: the persisting social resistance to women’s participation in political leadership; the culture of electoral violence that tends to be harsher toward women than men; the feminisation of poverty, which leaves women at a financial disadvantage to fund a campaign; and women’s marginalisation in political party hierarchy, and a corresponding lack of influence in how parties shape the rules of nomination. Four factors responsible for women’s political and economic marginalisation are then discussed: religion and cultural belief systems; the masculine nature of politics, and the perception that women are weak in that context; the lack of finance, and the political corruption that compounds the impact of gendered wealth inequalities; and the lack of effective means of implementation of affirmative action. On the bright side, the report points to the work of women empowerment programmes, such as the Forum of Nigerian Women in Politics, as well as the actions of the UN and other international agencies as examples of successful influence on societal development.
In the conclusion to the report, the authors call for mass mobilisation campaigns to break traditional attitudes that hold women back from participating in politics. Given the grave implications of political and economic marginalisation of women in Nigeria, it is vital to develop women’s abilities and capabilities; sustainable human development cannot be achieved without fully integrating women into all aspects of international development. In recognition of this, the study makes a number of recommendations:
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As a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Nigeria should immediately implement the provisions therein to eliminate the conflicting and discriminatory provisions in both statutory and customary law.
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Customary and religious institutions in Nigeria require a reformation so as to avoid discrimination against women’s involvement politically and economically, and to eliminate patriarchal structures.
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An electoral bill is required that explicitly promotes affirmative actions that enhance women’s empowerment, including the reservation of at least 30% of all elective positions for women, in every party.
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The government should partner with women’s movements, NGO’s, mass media, and civil society to push aggressive awareness campaigns against women’s subordination, discrimination, marginalisation, stigmatisation, and the societal stereotype of women’s inferiority to men.
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Women’s education should be supported as a key driver of empowerment, including both urban and rural adult education.
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Economic empowerment strategies that target women, such as minimal interest rate loans, should be enacted to encourage small and medium scale business enterprises. Micro-finance providers and commercial banks should be mandated to remove barriers that make loans to women inaccessible.
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Finally, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to create an environment that is supportive of and conducive for women’s participation. This must include curbing the culture of electoral violence, and the use of political thugs and gangsters to suppress and witch-hunt political opponents.