The protest against bad governance in Nigeria reflects the call for a more equitable and representative governance structure, one that addresses the exclusion of women and other marginalised groups.
Programme officer with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Zainab Yahaya Tanko, said the protest underscores a broader demand for inclusivity, paralleling the ongoing struggle against gender exclusion in the country’s political landscape.
“The protests highlight dissatisfaction with entrenched systems that marginalise significant portions of the population, including women, who continue to face systemic barriers to political representation and participation.”
According to Tanko, “Systemic barriers such as patriarchal political culture, gendered economic inequalities, and a lack of political will have continued to limit women’s participation and representation in Nigeria.”
The advocacy for gender equality, led by organisations like the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and other groups, was rewarded with a Federal High Court judgment ordering the federal government to ensure 35% of its appointive positions are allocated to Nigerian women.
Despite high hopes following this judgment over two years ago, the lack of implementation of the 35% affirmative action judgment pinpoints the challenges faced in achieving gender equality in Nigeria’s political landscape.
As Nigerian women continue to push for the implementation of the 35% affirmative action, “women groups are focusing on strategic efforts such as building alliances and raising awareness to apply pressure on the government for implementation.”
She said, “To advance gender inclusion in Nigerian governance, a comprehensive strategy should involve advocacy and awareness campaigns, legal and policy advocacy, capacity building for women leaders, coalition building with civil society, grassroots mobilisation, political engagement, and monitoring for accountability.”
She reiterated that Nigeria Women Trust Fund and other women-led organisations have been actively implementing these strategies to foster a more equitable and inclusive political landscape in Nigeria.
She expressed optimism that the current protest is a springboard for gender inclusion activism to gain momentum with a focus on strategic advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots initiatives. “Activists will likely leverage the protest’s visibility to push for policy changes, increased implementation of gender equity measures, and enhanced collaboration with policymakers to achieve lasting reforms and greater representation of women in leadership roles,” she added.
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