By Prosper Mene, April 12, 2025
For years, Nigerian womenโs rights advocates have rallied behind the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, a proposed law designed to enforce equal pay and opportunities across sectors. Yet, as the bill remains stalled in legislative review, frustration is mounting among those who see it as critical to dismantling systemic gender disparities, according to reports from Punch in March 2025.
The bill, first introduced over a decade ago, seeks to domesticate international commitments like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Nigeria ratified in 1985. Its provisions include mandates for equal pay, protection against workplace discrimination, and measures to boost womenโs access to education and leadership roles. If passed, it could reshape Nigeriaโs corporate and public sectors, where women hold only 24% of board seats and 12% of CEO positions in NGX-listed companies.
Despite its promise, the billโs slow progress has sparked criticism. Advocates argue that the male-dominated National Assembly,where women make up just 4% of lawmakers, has repeatedly sidelined the legislation, citing cultural and religious concerns. โThis delay is not just bureaucratic; itโs a deliberate barrier to justice,โ said Chioma Okeke, a Lagos-based gender equality activist. โEvery year we wait, women lose opportunities, wages, and safety.โ
Recent debates in the Senate highlight the divide. While some lawmakers support the billโs alignment with constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination, others claim it conflicts with traditional norms. A 2025 attempt to fast-track the bill faltered after heated sessions, leaving it in committee limbo.
The economic stakes are high. The International Monetary Fund estimates that closing Nigeriaโs gender gap could boost GDP growth by over 1% annually. Yet, with only 30% of women in managerial roles and a persistent wage gap, the need for legal reform is urgent.
As protests loom ahead of International Womenโs Day 2026, advocates are pressing for action. โWeโre tired of promises,โ said Okeke. โNigerian women deserve laws that match their contributions.โ The National Assembly has yet to schedule the billโs next review, leaving its fate uncertain.
