It is a grave injustice that our laws tend to oppress women while uplifting men and a big shame that our constitution and lawmakers continuously ridicule the existence and equality of women. 

This show of shame was once again displayed in the Nigerian National Assembly which is our national parliament, as the parliamentarians voted against all 5 bills seeking the amendment on affirmative actions for women and women's rights as citizens of Nigeria. 

These votes against women were cast by the same representatives whom we voted into power to protect our interests. 

IMO WOMEN HAVE REFUSED TO STAY CALM (REMAIN SILENT) 

We need you to sign this petition to enable us hold all Parliamentarians representing Imo state to sign for women’s rights or take a clear stand against our human rights. Hence This Clarion Call 

The vote against inclusion with respect to amendments that seek to transmit human rights for women is an outrageous threat to the democracy of Nigeria as a Nation. 

As we hold the representatives from Imo state we hope every other state across the federation holds their respective representatives as we are set to call out all unreliable duty bearers. 

These unreliable duty bearers include those who abstained from voting and those who were absent during the plenary. 

Never has it been most pertinent than the present, for women irrespective of the sphere of influence to bond together for women's rights. 

Hence this clarion, for us to mobilize massively and make our nauseating rejection of THEIR Affirmative pleasure clear, whilst reiterating our commitment to fairness, justice and equity and insistence on women's rights.

The constraints imposed on Nigerian women by the current economic and political order is not only inhuman and a betrayal of trust, but it also sabotage the efforts of the government to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. 

The decision by some members of NASS to tighten the *political leash* on women is meant to sustain (if not increase) women's dependency on men.

 With one of the highest poverty and dependency rates in the world, the worst thing we can do to ourselves is to limit the huge population of our nation.  

It is IMPORTANT to note that this is not just a women’s issue, it is a national emergency of human rights violation and should be treated as such.  

 

Call To ACTION!  

1. I and millions of other women in Nigeria need you to sign this petition and join us in raising our voices for unbiased human rights, for us Right now and for our children Soonest 

2. If you are in Imo state, join in holding your Representatives in the Senate and the House of Representatives as we ask them to reconsider the Bills and vote in favour of our human rights. 

3. All Lawmakers who do not stand for women and for justice, DO NOT Deserve to stand for us further and should therefore be voted out massively. 

4. Get Ready with your Permanent Voters Card in Imo and Across the Federation 

 

 

The Bills rejected by the national assembly are as follows 

 

1. Bill to expand the scope of citizenship by registration: This Bill if amended is meant to enable foreign spouses of Nigerian women to gain citizenship by marriage, noting that this already exists for men, insinuating that our women are not even as many citizens as Nigerian men. This Bill was not passed in the National Assembly because it did not receive the required two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. (Section 26 of the Constitution)

2. Bill Expanding Indigeneship rights: this bill seeks to amend the constitution to expand indigeneship to Nigerians living in states other than their state of origin after a period of time and to women who marry from states other than their state of origin to benefit from certain rights relating to employment, education, appointment, and election into a political and public office. This amendment is intended to address the injustice women who marry outside their states of origin face. This Bill was not passed in the National Assembly because it did not receive the required two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. (Seeking to amend sections 31 and 318 of the constitution).

3. Bill to Create Special Seats for Women: This Bill seeks to amend the constitution to create seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. With this amendment, there will be 74 reserved seats in the House of Representatives, 37 in the Senate, and 3 in each State Assembly that only women can contest for. The idea is to ensure that every Assembly has women representation. The reserved seats will only be operational for 4 electoral cycles and do not preclude women from contesting for the other seats. This Bill was not passed in the National Assembly because it did not receive the required two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. (Seeking to amend Sections 48, 49, 71, 77, 117). 

4. Bill to Ensure Affirmative Action for Women in Political Party Administration: This Bill provides a legal mandate on the political parties to ensure that at least 35% of its members of the Executive Council are women. This Bill was not passed in the National Assembly because it did not receive the required two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. (Seeking to amend Section 223 of the Constitution). 

5. Bill to Ensure Early Submission of names of Nominees for Ministers and Commissioners and Affirmative Action for Women: this Bill seeks to amend the constitution to mandate the President of Nigeria and the Governors of the 36 states to appoint Minister and Commissioners respectively within 60 days of their oath of office and that such nominee must present evidence of the declaration of their assets and liabilities. In addition, it mandates that at least 10% of women will be appointed as Ministers and Commissioners. This bill was passed with some differences in the National Assembly because the House of Representatives voted for 20% and the Senate voted for 10% affirmative action. (Amends sections 142 and 192 of the Constitution).