Baba-Ahmed Slams National Assembly For Rejecting Gender Bills: “It’s Tragic”

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has criticized the National Assembly’s rejection of gender bills in the recently concluded constitutional amendments.

This was stated by a spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Wednesday, a day after the bills were rejected by federal lawmakers. A majority of lawmakers voted against one of the bills, titled “Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters.”

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However, the NEF image-maker opposes the move, claiming that some of the bills would have improved the country.

During an appearance on Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed said, “There were some key clauses that would have added substantially in terms of improving the quality of the constitution and the leadership selection.”

“Tragically, one of them was the rejection of reserving 35 percent of elective positions for women. This is in no way appropriate for a country like Nigeria. It is tragic that women are underrepresented in key positions and decision-making.

“It’s truly tragic.” Women have essentially been reduced to the role of voters. Except for the people we elect, the political system has reduced everyone else to spectators who are only relevant for election purposes. The people we elect then take power and do whatever they want with it.

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“The rejection hit me particularly hard. Every amendment based on gender was voted down. It was as if we had a legislature that was on the verge of declaring war on women.”

Women’s groups protested at the National Assembly following the lawmakers’ decision, accusing them of discriminating against women. They sang songs of solidarity and urged them to reconsider the requests for 111 seats for women, citizenship, 35 percent representation in party leadership, and more appointive positions in government, and to vote in favor of these amendments.