Nigerian Senate rejects bill seeking gender equality in marriage
Wed Mar 16, 2016 10:49:am National
2.3K By sosa hills
The male dominated Senate on Tuesday killed a bill seeking to give political and economic powers to Nigerian women.
The opponents of the bill argued that most of its provisions in the proposed law were in conflict with both the Sharia Law and the 1999 Constitution.
It was the same reason that the Seventh Senate gave to dismiss a similar before it.
The Bill sponsored by the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), was entitled: ‘A Bill for an Act to Incorporate and Enforce Certain Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the Protocol of the
"The fact that disparity of gendered pricing still exists within today's society shows that women still continue to be disempowered in many aspects of economic life. It is also important that price differentials will have differing effects on women different cultural backgrounds and social standing thus affecting the economic empowerment of women of in different ways.
"Equal rights for women in marriage, divorce and property and ownership and inheritance are essential for gender equality. The legal and social treatment of married women has been often discussed as a political issue from the 19th century onwards," Olujinmi said.
African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and other Matters Connected Therewith, 2016 (SB. 116)'.
The proposal, which was scheduled to pass second reading yesterday was supported by some senators but it suffered a set-back and died on the floor Senate as the debate progressed.
In her lead debate, Olujimi highlighted its content for over 15 minutes. She said that it had become imperative for the law to be put in place to liberate women from all forms of discrimination, suppression and oppression in the country.
"Only last night, I was going through a document prepared by George Bush of America. Those countries that are doing well are those who give women opportunities," he said.
"Where I come from, women don't eat egg and are restricted from touching the non-essential parts of animal. But now that has changed. What is needed is time and education, not necessarily legislation. We will continue to encourage our women. I support this bill", he said.
Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Bala Na'Allah, Ali Ndume and Binta Masi, among others, supported the bill and asked that it should be passed for second reading.
A former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani, kicked against it, saying that most of its provisions contradicted the 1999 Constitution as amended
He, therefore, urged the Senate to either kill the proposal or ask Olujimi to withdraw, rework it and remove all the insertions that run contrary to the constitution.
Senator Adamu Aliero also kicked against the bill, saying that it was not only in conflict with the constitution but also the Sharia and Common laws.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said that the bill, if allowed to pass into law would work against morality in the society, as women would take advantage of the provisions to enjoy unhindered freedom which would worsen the moral decadence in the country.
When the Senate President, Senator Olusola Saraki put the bill to voice vote, those who rejected it carried the day.
The opponents of the bill argued that most of its provisions in the proposed law were in conflict with both the Sharia Law and the 1999 Constitution.
It was the same reason that the Seventh Senate gave to dismiss a similar before it.
The Bill sponsored by the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), was entitled: ‘A Bill for an Act to Incorporate and Enforce Certain Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the Protocol of the
"The fact that disparity of gendered pricing still exists within today's society shows that women still continue to be disempowered in many aspects of economic life. It is also important that price differentials will have differing effects on women different cultural backgrounds and social standing thus affecting the economic empowerment of women of in different ways.
"Equal rights for women in marriage, divorce and property and ownership and inheritance are essential for gender equality. The legal and social treatment of married women has been often discussed as a political issue from the 19th century onwards," Olujinmi said.
African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and other Matters Connected Therewith, 2016 (SB. 116)'.
The proposal, which was scheduled to pass second reading yesterday was supported by some senators but it suffered a set-back and died on the floor Senate as the debate progressed.
In her lead debate, Olujimi highlighted its content for over 15 minutes. She said that it had become imperative for the law to be put in place to liberate women from all forms of discrimination, suppression and oppression in the country.
"Only last night, I was going through a document prepared by George Bush of America. Those countries that are doing well are those who give women opportunities," he said.
"Where I come from, women don't eat egg and are restricted from touching the non-essential parts of animal. But now that has changed. What is needed is time and education, not necessarily legislation. We will continue to encourage our women. I support this bill", he said.
Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Bala Na'Allah, Ali Ndume and Binta Masi, among others, supported the bill and asked that it should be passed for second reading.
A former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani, kicked against it, saying that most of its provisions contradicted the 1999 Constitution as amended
He, therefore, urged the Senate to either kill the proposal or ask Olujimi to withdraw, rework it and remove all the insertions that run contrary to the constitution.
Senator Adamu Aliero also kicked against the bill, saying that it was not only in conflict with the constitution but also the Sharia and Common laws.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said that the bill, if allowed to pass into law would work against morality in the society, as women would take advantage of the provisions to enjoy unhindered freedom which would worsen the moral decadence in the country.
When the Senate President, Senator Olusola Saraki put the bill to voice vote, those who rejected it carried the day.
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