Last week, the senate rejected the bill mainly as a result of many senators from northern Nigeria voted against it, claiming it was against their culture and religion. However, Dr Paul Unongo, the Nef deputy national leader has expressed his displeasure over the recent rejection of the bill.
According to Mr Unongo, the rejection of the bill was a major setback in the advocacy for women’s rights in Nigeria. Some northern senators had opposed the bill on the grounds that it was against the tenets of Islam but Mr Unongo said this was a fallacy as there is nothing in Christianity and Islam that is against the empowerment of women and creating opportunities for them.
He added that the Nef now has plans to convince northern senators to consider the bill because it would empower Nigerian women. It appears that the Nef will now step up the lobbying of northern senators in a bid to get them to vote for the bill when it gets re-presented before the senate again.
Dr Unongo added: “I am planning a meeting with the northern senators in Abuja to enable them see the reason why they shouldn’t quash the bill. I do not believe that Islam is against giving more opportunities for women and enhance their performance.
“I also think that it is a wrong interpretation of the bible that women are inferior or do not deserve to have equal rights as men. My judgment as an elder is that the bill should be reconsidered.
He added that some women have demonstrated courage and capacity to handle complex problems and have performed more than their male counterparts in some cases. On the ongoing economic summit convened by President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr Unongo said it was a right step to reposition the Nigerian economy.
He said the dwindling oil prices and the fall of the naira presented an opportunity for the country to address the dependence on oil revenues. Dr Unongo advised delegates at the summit to focus on tackling youth unemployment and creating an enabling environment for industrial growth.
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