National Coalition on Affirmative Action

NATIONAL POLICY ON WOMEN

NATIONAL POLICY ON WOMEN

Introduction
Rationale
Goals
Objectives
Policy Thrust
Sectoral Components
Science and Technology
Health
Employment
Agriculture
Industry
Environment
Legal Reforms/Legislative Protection
Social Services
Politics and Decision-Making
Media Relations and Publicity
General Policy Guidelines
General Proposals for Action
International Action

GENERAL GENDER POLICY ISSUES

1. Introduction

Gender issues in development received little attention in national planning in Nigeria until the declaration of the United Nations Decade for Women. Hitherto, women's reproductive, productive and community management roles and potentials were marginalized and left out of the system of national accounting. Therefore, development planning since the colonial period has been gender insensitive, as a result of the continuous interaction between the indigenous culture and the inherited patriarchy from the colonial administration, as well as the strong inhibiting effects of traditional and capitalist ideologies.
Until the last decade and a half, the gains of women from development were minimal and temporal while the entire process intensified existing gender inequalities even in period of national prosperity. Although the United Nations decade for women increased awareness about the strategic and practical needs of women, there was little commitment to incorporate these into national and sectoral policies until the mid-1980s, when there developed the yearning for a National Women in Development Policy to facilitate the full integration of women into the social, economic and political life of the nation.
This National Policy on women fulfils the yearning as well as efforts of Federal, State and Local Governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), International Development Partners, the private sector, concerned corporate bodies and individuals to integrate women fully into national development in order to remove those inequalities that have evolved in our society over time through structures and processes created by patriarchy, colonialism and capitalism. The policy is expected to consolidate largely salient revolutionary changes already stimulated by past and current women in development programmes.
The policy is therefore another expression of the government's commitment to the development of all sectors of the population and to the institutionalization of processes which will pilot the Nigerian society towards social equity, justice and a much improved quality.
The National Policy on Women is indeed one of the most direct activities of chapter 11, section 17, subsection 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which states that: "Every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." and subsection 3: "All citizens without discrimination on any group whatever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood, as well adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment."

While the constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens regardless of gender, circumstance of birth, etc, the National Policy on Women articulates into a coherent whole, all Gender and Development (GAD) policies and programmes

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2. Rationale

Women make up 49.6% of the nation's total population (1991 census). They are responsible for the reproduction of the labour force and for producing over 70% of the nation's food supply. The indicators of their underdevelopment discussed below show the magnitude of the poverty of women, indicate performance levels up-to-date and justify the need for the development of a national policy.
About 13.3% of women were employed in the formal sector until the 1980s. This proportion declined rapidly in the process of economic reconstruction as a result of the rationalization of public and private sector workers and cuts in production capacity in industry.
The Majority of female worker are in lower cadre occupation. Those in professional and marginal occupations constitute only 18% of that grade of employment. Although there are labour laws, which protect women in the formal labour market, these are poorly implemented. Not enough support is given for childcare for working mothers, and tax laws are discriminatory.
Most Nigerian women are informal sector workers who predominate in micro-enterprises with little or no access to credit, technology and other support required to build up capital. Indeed, it is estimated that a negligible proportion of women in the formal sector has access to credit, hence the high attrition rate of women's businesses
The philosophy behind this policy is based on national constitutional stipulations, the need to restructure the economy and our political and social institutions to endure social equity and economic growth. It also derives from our traditional commitment to the stability of the family and the complementarity of gender roles.
Towards this end, this policy will demand the efficient utilization of educational funding as well as the reintroduction of public health inspection at all levels of government.

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3. Goals

The National Policy on Women draw heavily from national and international initiatives related to Women In Development and aims at ensuring the following:

Raising national awareness of the citizens' constitutional rights and on a long-term basis, mobilizing and educating the public on human rights in order to remove legal, cultural, religious and other constraints against the attainment of social justice and equity in the society.
Ensuring the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
Instituting an effective Gender And Development (GAD) management structure for the co-ordination of all GAD activities in the country and ensuring the efficient implementation by all sectors concerned. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development should coordinate these activities.
Empowering women through enhanced strategic human resources development.
Establishing a data bank based on the implementation of a comprehensive (nationwide) baseline survey.

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4. Objectives

Government is committed to the full integration of women into the development process to enhance their capacities for improving their economic, social and political status and as a means of developing fully the nation's human resources for national economic growth.

The objectives of the National Policy on Women are:

Ensuring that the principle and provisions as contained in the Nigerian constitution are effectively enforced.
Bringing into the mainstream, gender perspectives in all policies and programmes based on a systematic gender analysis at all levels of government.

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5. Policy Thrust

Equity, Social Order and Social Well- Being
1. In joining other nations to adopt the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, Nigeria affirms its support for the alleviation of the numerous constraints to women's full integration into the development process.
2. Mechanisms for planned interventions aimed at re-awakening women's self-consciousness and re-evaluation of their self concept shall be instituted to empower and encourage them to speak for their rights to equitable distribution of resources and social justice.
3. Programmes shall be designed to remove social malaise associated with gender inequality, which is destroying social cohesiveness and eroding social order at national, community and family levels. Infact, society will be re-oriented to accept equity, complementarities of roles and respect for family values.
4. Clearly, improvements in the economy as well as hope for the future for all citizens remain largely a function of the level of integration of women into the total life of their communities and societies.
5. Comprehensive and coherently integrated programmes shall be designed and implemented for achieving effective and sustainable improvements in the quantity and quality of employment for women.
Resource Allocation
1. Full participation of women in the economic programmes of the country can become more meaningful when they have the resource to back-up their aspirations and newly acquired self-consciousness/image. Government shall ensure removal of all constraints posed by customary laws and practices to women's right to land, either by acquisition and/or by inheritance.
2. Government shall ensure that women are provided with equal opportunities to compete effectively and fairly in the economic system.
Economic Growth and Efficiency
1. Realizing that the underdevelopment of women in any society is almost always synonymous with that society's underdevelopment, the development of women shall be given priority in government's attempts to restructure the economy. Women shall be empowered through appropriate educational and skill development programmes to utilize their great potentials for the economic progress of the country through their participation in the privatization of public enterprises in agricultural production for export and home consumption.
2. While maintaining the free-market approach, women shall be encouraged and supported through various entrepreneurship programmes to invest in large, medium and small-scale enterprises. In addition, their capacity shall be strengthened for entry into professional and managerial occupations where their skills/labour would be useful for increasing capacity utilization in industry.
Patriarchy, Ideology And Legal Framework
1. Patriarchy and its related practices constitute major impediments to the full integration of women into the Nigerian economy. As practised in Nigeria, patriarchy gives men ascendancy in inheritance, authority and decision-making in and outside the home.
2. Therefore the structures that prop up patriarchy (inheritance through the male, high value of male children, strict adherence to division of labour along gender line) shall be discouraged through education, enlightenment and national awareness.
3. Egalitarian principles shall form the basis of early socialization of children by all relevant agencies. Both men and women shall be made aware of the legal and constitutional provisions and protection of these principles.
4. This means that existing legislation institutionalizing gender equality shall be enforced and where necessary, appropriate ones enacted. Women shall be incorporated into the legislature and the judiciary to ensure the protection of their rights.
Culture
1. Culture, as a way of life of a people, embodies their attitudes, values, beliefs and life-styles, it is dynamic and should therefore reflect the current needs of people for meaningful and sustainable development.
2. The National Policy on Women shall eliminate those aspects of our culture that inhibit the development of positive self-identity of women and their participation in society.
3. To that end, government and non-governmental agencies shall promote programmes and measures to replace deleterious practices, images, stereotypes, attitudes and prejudices against women through appropriate change in socialization patterns, gender equality, enlightenment through the mass media, popular culture, formal and informal education.

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6. Sectoral Components

Education
1. Women's educational status in any nation correlates with its level of development. Consequently, the higher the level of women's educational status, the more developed the nation.
2. For Nigerian women to enjoy the full benefits of contemporary living and to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country, they require basic education. The government shall in this regard increase girls' and women's participation in education irrespective of their location and circumstance.
3. Although women's education is very much needed for self and national development, social and religious factors constrain them from acquiring education
Objectives
1. To provide compulsory and free primary and secondary education for all children and as of right for all citizens.
2. To make enrolment and retention of girls in schools compulsory.
3. To expand facilities for "Second Chance" education for all.
4. To encourage girls to enroll in science, technology and mathematics (STM), especially at the secondary school level.
5. To reinforce current non-formal educational programmes to provide selective types of learning with specific objectives for adult women, secondary school dropouts and women who desire to further their education.
6. To provide education and relevant training for girls and women with special needs, the gifted, handicapped, nomads, women in purdah, riverine and rural areas, drop out, widows, single parents, market women and career women.
7. To discourage or forbid withdrawal of girls under eighteen from school for marriage through legal sanctions.
Implementation Strategies
1. Local schools should be accessible to children in their respective localities at a maximum of three-kilometer radius.
2. Ensure the training and retraining of teachers.
3. Provide encouragement and incentives for the education of girls/women in science, technology and mathematics.
4. Provide educational support services for girls' education through advocacy and social mobilization.
5. Encourage community participation to develop the interest of communities in education and involve leaders in the planning and implementation of educational programmes.

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7. Science and Technology

Preamble
1. Nigeria has an abundance of natural resources, namely: industrial materials, fossil fuels, ferrous and non-ferrous minerals, but it lacks the technological sophistication to maximize the extraction of these resources and refinement for national development.
2. Poor knowledge and application of science and technology affects the lives of citizens adversely, particularly women.
3. Given this poor background and the fact that Nigeria needs sound science and technology to attain self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and considering the role of women in society, women should be empowered in this regard.
Objectives
1. To involve women in the choice, procurement, innovation, adaptation and application of science and technology.
2. To utilize scientific research findings and technology to improve the status of women.
Implementation Strategies
1. Science and technology education shall be enhanced at all levels of the educational system, stressing mathematical skills and the application of science and technology at the primary and secondary levels.
2. Ensure adequate provision of facilities as well as trained personnel.
3. Inclusion of basic science and technology in women's education center programmes.
4. Government shall identify and encourage female students and women who distinguish themselves in science and technology. The private sector shall also be encouraged to do the same.
5. Sensitize the community through workshops, seminars and the mass media in promoting the importance of science and technology for children and women.
6. Female professional bodies should register with the appropriate agencies.

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8. Health

Preamble
1. Women are acknowledged as primary providers of healthcare for their families, their communities and societies. However, because of cultural practices, social inhibitions, illiteracy, low social status and low social visibility, their health concerns and needs are often overlooked by policy makers and implementers.
2. Women's major health problems are high maternal mortality rates associated with pregnancy and childbirth and unsafe abortions. Reproductive tract infections (RTI's) including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, cervical and breast cancer, female genital mutilation and traditional practices that are inimical to health, teenage pregnancy, vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), insufficient information on body structure and functions, poor access to health facilities, poor distribution of trained medical personnel and low level of socio-economic development, all contribute to poor health status.
3. In this regard, women's health needs should go beyond mere medical attention to encompass development matters that affect the totality of human life and therefore require an integrated multi-sectional approach for effective services delivery.
4. The Federal Government has in place a National Health Policy with the goal of establishing a comprehensive healthcare system based on Primary Healthcare, that is promotive, protective, preventive, restorative and rehabilitative, to every citizen of the country within available resources so that individuals and communities are assured of productivity, social well being and enjoyment of living.
5. Specific initiatives to address women's health needs within this framework include the Women in Health Development and the Safe Motherhood programmes. However, there is need to expand women in health projects and promote an integrated health package which takes care of the health needs throughout the life cycle.
Objectives
1. To enhance the implementation of the Primary Healthcare delivery system to meet the health needs of women and other vulnerable groups.
2. To strengthen the vaccination of children and pregnant women against identified endemic and preventable diseases.
3. To intensify the teaching of appropriate health education in schools and adult literacy classes to promote women's health.
4. To encourage the participatory approach to health development to improve the involvement of women in health decision-making organs by recruiting more women into such positions.
5. To provide accessible, affordable, well-equipped and well-staffed health facilities for the use of women and other vulnerable groups and to encourage local efforts to establish and maintain such facilities.
6. To provide information, services and technical advice on women's health issues and family life.
7. To legislate or enforce appropriate protective measures for women workers in both formal and informal sectors of the economy as well as provide child-minding facilities to women workers.
8. To eliminate Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) that affect the health of girls and women
9. To encourage female admission into medical schools and training in allied fields.
Implementation Strategies
1. All tiers of government shall play a coordinating role to ensure the pooling of all available resources for the effective administration of healthcare services delivery.
2. The community, especially women's groups, shall be integrated into the overall health delivery system by their full participation in the planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of existing healthcare systems.
3. The community, maternal and child healthcare services delivery including family planning shall be promoted.
4. Food, water supply, nutrition, education and effective use of appropriate technology for improved health care services delivery is to be emphasized.
5. Strengthen health institutions to continue programmes for the immunization of children and pregnant women to ensure the control of identified endemic and preventable diseases.
6. Expand current training programmes for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to include traditional women healers, to enable them function in more hygienic conditions and to recognize cases beyond their competency for referral.
7. Ensure provision of accessible, affordable, well-staffed and well-equipped health facilities at all levels for the use by women and other vulnerable groups.
8. Health education programmes and family life education shall be intensified at all tiers of government and by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as a means of promoting good health for girls, children and women.
9. Government to provide gender-desegregated data on women's special health needs to streamline them for appropriate policy actions and programmes and to facilitate monitoring and evaluation of interventions.
10. Paid maternity leave shall be given to all working mothers whether single or married. Maternity leave period shall be twelve weeks commencing from the date recommended by the doctor with four additional weeks for every additional baby by multiple births.
11. Employers of labour shall be mandated to include gynecological cases in their health care schemes for women as well as obstetric cases for a maximum of four children; and to extend health care benefits to spouses and children of workingwomen.
12. Enforce legislation and increase advocacy against all harmful traditional practices that affect the health of girls and women.
13. Promote the award of scholarships and subsidies for female students in medical schools and training in allied fields.
14. Ensure the re-introduction of public health inspections and enforce it in all entries, market places, schools and public toilets at all tiers of government.

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9. Employment

Preamble
1. The prosperity of a nation depends on the efficient utilization of all factors of production, land, labour and capital. Hitherto, the labour of women had been used on a small scale in the formal sector of the economy, a result of the social discrimination in education and training, as well as the gender based division of labour which is reflected in the formal sector of employment.
  
  Apart from the negative impact of this on national prosperity, it has become obvious that the marginalization of women in this sector has reduced their access to substantial regular income and social status in the society. The economic restructuring programme, on account of its emphasis on economic growth, efficiency and social value of women's work, rationalized a substantial proportion of female workers out of the public and private sectors since they were lowest rungs of the occupation hierarchy.
Objectives
1. To eliminate all discriminatory practices against the employment of women in the public and private sectors of the economy.
2. To eliminate socio-cultural constraints to female entry into the formal sector to improve the supply of labour.
3. To sustain equality of treatment between men and women in wages and salaries employment with particular reference to the private sector.
4. To encourage equal access to education and skill acquisition programmes for women in order to increase the demand for their labour at all levels, but particularly at the managerial and executive levels.
5. To ensure effective implementation of national labour laws and international labour standards which protect women.
6. To create conditions of employment conducive to women's special roles in reproductive and community management.
7. Women should be actively involved in the decision making process at the workplace such as board and management level and in trade unions.
8. To incorporate the informal sector into the National Accounting System (NAS) in a gender desegregated format and interlink with current government policy on National Data Bank.
Implementation Strategies
1. Government sponsored and private training institutions shall be encouraged to organize gender sensitization programmes on the role of women in the development process in order to raise awareness of this target group.
2. The public shall be sensitized through mass mobilization campaigns about the need for women to be in formal sector employment in order to break traditional attitudes and stereotypes about women's work.
3. The Ministry of Labour and Productivity is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all labour laws relevant to women's development are adhered to.
4. The tax codes shall be revised to ensure equity in the principles of equal pay for work of equal value.
5. Establishment of crèches as part of the benefits for women (employees) both in the public and private sectors in line with Nigeria's child survival policy (i.e. Baby Friendly Initiative) and our commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the OAU Charter on the Rights of the African Child.
6. Industries shall be encouraged to produce low cost labour saving devices for women to ensure more efficient utilization of their labour.
7. Encouragement shall be given to local manufacturers that support government's efforts to integrate women into formal sector employment.
8. Women shall be encouraged to actively participate in labour relations.
9. Retraining and re-employment packages shall be introduced for retrenched workers, especially female workers, to cushion the effects of economic restructuring and adjustment.
10. Labour laws shall be reviewed to include more and better protective measures for women workers.
11. The informal sector shall be recognized, supported and structured in order to create an environment that will ensure the provision of social security for its members.

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10. Agriculture

Preamble
1. Women provide an estimated 60 - 80% of labour input in agriculture, especially in food production, processing and marketing. Many women are farmers in their own right; apart from working on family farms. Although various efforts have been made by several agencies, unfortunately women's contribution in this regard is not adequately acknowledged in the development of agricultural policy and programmes. This situation must be corrected.
2. Despite the fact that women are predominantly the food producers of the nation, the majority of them are still food insecure, being small holders whose farm sizes or that of their husbands fall below the threshold level for adequate food production. Most affected are usually lactating and pregnant women whose protein and energy intake falls below recommended daily requirements. This contributes to the high incidence of differential feeding practices, which results in low protein and energy intake early in life.
Objectives
1. To enhance the visibility and productivity of women's work in the agricultural sector.
2. To remove the obstacles to women's access to land, water, necessary credit and other productive inputs, extension services training in agricultural appropriate technologies and tools.
Implementation Strategies
1. Federal, State and Local Government shall give adequate financial support to direct agricultural extension services. Relevant agencies will be encouraged to adopt the participatory approach to ensure full involvement of women in the planning and implementation of such programmes.
2. Research and extension network to identify, develop and disseminate appropriate and affordable technologies in all areas of agricultural activities of interest to women. Local Governments shall be encouraged to set up technical services and repair centres to back up women's need for regular technical support.
3. Explore and encourage women farmers to make use of local sources of credit for boosting production and also other viable indigenous practices and inputs.
4. Institutional credit sources shall be strengthened to create special revolving loan funds for women.
5. Women shall not be discriminated against in the implementation of the 1978 Land Use Act.
6. Government and local communities shall liberalize women's access to water resources to ensure that it is at the same level with men.
7. Government and relevant agencies shall encourage the development and use of environmental friendly technology including biogas and organic fertilizers for the promotion of sustainable agriculture.
8. Local Governments shall be encouraged to establish market and distribution networks and provide adequate information on appropriate pricing for farm produce for women.
9. Government shall strengthen home economic services to vigorously promote consumer education in order to encourage quality development of food and other agricultural commodities.
10. Government, international agencies, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations shall strengthen training activities for field extension work and skill acquisition for women farmers through the provision of adequate funding.
11. Government shall support research and development of gender desegregated information for establishment of a databank.
12. Government shall facilitate the development and strengthening of women cooperatives for effective participation in agricultural programmes.
13. Communities and local governments shall be encouraged to maintain a register of women farmers with the appropriate agencies for regular productive evaluation and other benefits.

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11. Industry

Preamble
1. The visibility of women in petty trading gives the false impression that their enterprises are successful and acknowledged. However, a recent assessment of women's enterprises shows that the constraints to their ability to capitalize and to sustain themselves and their families are enormous. These will have to be removed to ensure the efficient utilization of their labour in those enterprises for socio-economic development. Poor access to credit, information, appropriate technology, lack of technical skills and poor organizational and accounting skills are germane problems at all levels of women's enterprises.
Objectives
1. To facilitate access to institutionalized credit.
2. To provide access to information on bureaucratic regulations.
3. To facilitate access to improved technology and inputs.
4. To enlighten women on different investment opportunities and expose their marketable products to domestic and international marketing channels.
5. To support and encourage the development of small, medium and large scale enterprise for women.
6. To train women for business development and management.
Implementation Strategies
1. Build a database on women's micro-enterprises by type and location.
2. Set up technical services in all tiers of government to assist women in planning and managing their enterprises. Ensure the provision of such facilities like counseling; local and technical supervising services to assist women in managing their enterprises.
3. Encourage women micro-enterprises owners to obtain the services of local women's associations to enable them deal with problems of input supply, credit and marketing to create jobs for other women, particularly those from poor households.
4. Extension services for women shall be provided for all registered Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) to enhance information exchange and problem identification.
5. Sponsor women to specialized trade missions, study tours, etc, to expose them to opportunities and technologies in various types of industries.

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12. Environment

Preamble
1. The environment encompasses physical, social and biological systems in which human beings interact. Women have a close affinity with the environment. They are the primary environment managers, extractors and users of environmental resources and must therefore participate in its protection and management. When the environment is despoiled by man made or natural hazards such as flood, erosion, desertification, salt water intrusion, deforestation, toxic wastes, agrochemical products and bad land use, women suffer grave consequences. Effective integration of women therefore in the management, protection, preservation, and use of the environment for sustainable development cannot be over emphasized.
Objectives
1. To ensure women's participation in national ecosystem management and control of environmental degradation.
2. To improve sanitary conditions and safe water supply especially in rural and urban slums.
3. To increase awareness of environmental issues and women's role and capacity for environmental improvement.
4. To provide legal framework for women's protection in the workplace and in the home.
5. To develop appropriate alternative and environmental friendly sources of energy.
6. To set up machinery for the co-ordination of local efforts and collaborate with international agencies in the control of desertification, erosion and the development of water resources.
7. To involve women in task forces to deal with natural disasters, resettlement of displaced people and victims of communal clashes.
Implementation Strategies.
1. Encourage women's participation in decision-making, designing, management and execution of environmental policies.
2. Increase through capacity building and affirmative action, the proportion of women decision-makers, planners, technical advisers, managers and extension workers in the environment and development fields.
3. Monitor regularly the implementation of development and environmental policies and programmes on women and evaluate their impact.
4. Ensure the inclusion of environmental issues in school curricula at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
5. Carry out awareness campaigns on the need for environmental protection.
6. Carry out research to better inform environmental planners on ways of mitigating environmental catastrophes.
7. Involve women in appropriate machineries for relieving and/or resetting victims of environmental disasters and communal conflicts.
8. Provide incentives to Non Governmental Organisations that are involved in environmental protection and management.
9. Relevant agencies shall ensure that women are adequately represented in all activities designed to improve the environment, particularly in reforestation programmes, and to ensure alternative sources of fuel energy to replace the use of firewood so as to check deforestation.

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13. Legal Reforms/Legislative Protection

Preamble
1. The legal framework of a nation is perhaps the most direct measure of its commitment to new policy initiatives. Writing a National Policy on Women will be an incomplete exercise without the necessary legal backing for the changes being proposed and without ensuring consistency between existing legal provisions and their implementation. Proposals for legal reforms or legislative protection in this context are a means of enforcing existing laws and initiating the enactment of new ones to protect new policy guidelines in consonance with the call in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
2. The Nigerian Constitution is explicit on Government's aspirations that all citizens be treated as equal under the law. These aspirations are limited in fulfillment because of the complexity of the Nigerian legal system arising from a tripartite system of laws (Statutory, Customary and the Sharia), which are sometimes contradictory. There is need for harmonization and legislative protection for vulnerable women.
Objectives.
1. To achieve legal literacy.
2. To enforce existing laws.
3. To amend existing laws where necessary.
4. To enact new laws where necessary.
5. To abolish those laws which discriminate against women through a carefully worked out programme of social mobilization and awareness generation.
Implementation Strategies
1. Ensure access to free or low cost legal services, including legal literacy, especially designed to reach women.
2. Government shall fix the minimum age of marriage at eighteen years to ensure that girls enjoy their fundamental rights to education and property, physical and mental development.
3. Government should legislate the mandatory provision of maternal health services (particularly ante-natal & post-natal) to all women to protect them from such disabilities as Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practices.
4. Government shall enact family protection laws that will make criminal any acts of domestic violence and neglect for the safety of all members of the family.
5. Women shall be enlightened on their rights to stand as sureties as entrenched in the Constitution. The practice whereby the police deny them this right shall be eliminated.
6. The legislation on personal income tax is discriminatory against women. The law assumes that children of the marriage belong to the man and therefore authorizes him to claim tax relief on their account. Also, expenditure by women on their children needs to be backed up by documentation before women can claim tax relief for such expenditure. All discriminatory legislation and practices on income tax shall be eliminated.
7. Ensure application of all laws of equity in all circumstances.
8. Public awareness advocacy and effective mechanisms shall be established for the enforcement of the laws against indecent adverts and publications that denigrate women.
9. Government shall enact laws to protect women.
10. Government shall enforce the sexual offence law defined in Section 357 of the Criminal Code against a woman or a girl. To make this code effective, the practice of requiring corroboration for sexual offences shall be amended.
11. Efforts shall be made to embark on the review and codification of customary laws as a means of eliminating the uncertainties in their content and application.
12. Offences against morality, e.g. prostitution and soliciting, shall continue to be checked by the Criminal Code and other appropriate and effective measures shall be taken to reduce the increasing rate of prostitution.
13. Labour Laws shall be reviewed to include more and better protective measures for women workers, for example, more realistic maternity leave, non-discriminatory conditions of service, facilities for crèches and enhanced safety standards in establishments with a high female population to take care of the peculiar needs of women.
14. There is need to harmonise all the laws of the land to ensure provisions for the rights of women to:
  1. Inheritance of their spouses, (even in childless marriages) parents, children and siblings.
  2. The custody of their children and the right to maintenance for those children.
  3. The right of women to land and landed property, where religion does not provide.
15. Government shall enact laws against maltreatment of widows and any other culturally dehumanizing demands on women who have lost their spouses.
16. Nigerian women shall enjoy the same rights as provided in Section 27, Subsection 2a of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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14. Social Services

Preamble
1. In addition to the above legislative reforms, government shall enforce the right to social services.
Implementation Strategies
1. Providing recreational units for families at all tiers of government.
2. Provision of good rural road networks and transport system.
3. Ensure provision of regular supply of portable water and other utilities.
4. Effective and affordable communication system including telephone services and access to the Internet.
5. Facilitate access to housing credits.

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15. Politics and Decision-Making

Preamble
1. Women's numerical strength in the population is not reflected in the political life and decision-making processes and structures of the nation. They are inadequately represented at the Senate, National and State Legislatures and the House of Representatives. At the State Houses of Assembly and at the Local Government Councils, women are either completely absent or grossly under-represented, as well as at the highest decision-making level (Executive, Legislature, Judiciary) in the country. There is the need to correct the situation to ensure the full realization of democracy.
Objectives
1. To redress the imbalance in women's representation in the political and social life of the nation, especially at the decision-making levels of the three arms of government. Adequate female representation should be seen in village cabinets, political party offices, social organizations, political and managerial posts, board appointments into Federal and State parastatals, key diplomatic assignments and other national and international jobs.
2. To ensure that women are given equal opportunity to participate fully in politics and decision-making.
3. To set up structures to develop political awareness and culture.
4. To ensure the elimination of all gender-based discrimination in employment and conditions of service at all levels.
5. To ensure that women are given equal opportunity to participate fully in policies and decision-making. Women can therefore contest for elective posts and be entitled to appointive posts anywhere, irrespective of their place of origin.
6. Institutional mechanisms and agencies for the emancipation of women should be headed by women.
7. Government shall implement affirmative action in support of women's advancement.
Implementation Strategies
1. The National Assembly shall provide adequate legislation to enable women to participate freely and equally in politics and decision-making. Affirmative action of proportionate ratio or 30% representation will be employed to increase the total representative seats in each of the legislative houses, executive arm, party hierarchy and structures shall be reserved for women for a trial period up to the year 2010.
2. Encourage women to set up political networking organizations.
3. Enlighten women on the need to support each other to achieve equal representation in major power locations.
4. All channels of mass communication shall be used to reach all women for effective participation in politics and to compete for elective positions.
5. Sensitize traditional and religious leaders to encourage women to participate in politics.
6. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development shall encourage the setting up and endowment of chairs in faculties in universities and research institutions on women issues.

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16. Media Relations and Publicity

Preamble
1. The role of the media as an agent of change is pivotal to the development of a nation. The media is therefore critical to efforts at women development. The Nigerian media, being male-dominated, is not sufficiently sensitive to issues relating to women and as such require re-education and re-orientation.
Objectives
1. To re-educate and re-orientate the media towards gender sensitivity in reporting women and issues that affect women.
2. To address the issue of the lopsided portrayal of women as symbols of entertainment and pleasure.
Implementation Strategies
1. Publicize all Gender and Development (GAD) activities.
2. Ensure that women's activities are reflected proportionately in the media.
3. Design publicity programmes for specific projects on women.
4. Eliminate gender bias in media language.
5. The media should facilitate effective partnership among governments, intergovernmental organizations and women-focused Non-Governmental Organizations.
6. Through a carefully worked out programme of social mobilization and awareness generation, advocate for the abolition of those malpractices which encourage and institutionalize discrimination against women.
7. Government information structures should facilitate the partnership of government with the individual press and alternative media practitioners all the way to the community level to promote women development.
8. Government and media shall, as a deliberate policy, encourage the entry and participation of women in the media and ensure their progression to the top.
9. The media should endeavour to use gender-desegregated data to report.

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17. General Policy Guidelines

The National Policy on women is opening up new challenges nationally and internationally to governments, donor agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and all those concerned about the poverty of women to start to work together within a short period of time to effect the policies outlined. The amelioration of poverty and the institutionalization of equity and social justice require acceptance and commitment of the policy guidelines and plans of action presented below.
Gender Analysis and National Development
1. The National Policy on Women is designed to be an integral part of the National Development Plan, for the latter is incomplete without it. Formulating a Gender and Development (GAD) policy demands a revision of the philosophy and guiding principles of the National Rolling Plan and is envisaged to bring about a better outcome, that is a more comprehensive policy designed to serve the interest of all citizens
2. Gender analysis in this context brings into focus the three major parameters (economic growth, social equity and social well-being) which should guide Nigerian development options in the next few decades. Thus policy makers need to understand the indispensability and interrelatedness of these parameters in formulating actions that will generate real development. The development of women cannot therefore occur within the context of injustice, inequity and socio-economic underdevelopment. On account of this, the sectoral policies are geared towards building up women not only as important human resources for economic growth, but also as beneficiaries of socio-economic development.
3. Women, as underdeveloped resources, were more adversely affected by development and its crisis than men, hence the feminization of poverty. The alleviation of poverty, however, depends as much on the social upliftment of women by, among other things, the redistribution of resources, as it does on national economic prosperity. Based on this development, the National Gender And Development Policy shall be incorporated into the next National Rolling Plan to show government's commitment to social equity and its preparedness to develop suitable action programmes for integrating it with actions focused on economic growth.
4. The absence of reliable data for planning is one of the major constraints to the development of a Gender And Development policy. Although planning in the country has been inhibited by this problem, it is a much more fundamental problem for gender analysis. The absence of a feminist framework of analysis clouded the interpretation of reality to the extent that women's needs remained largely unknown and therefore unplanned for. Now that a more balanced view of society is to be reflected in national planning, mechanisms should be put in place for government institutions responsible for data collection to desegregate all data on gender basis. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development shall establish a data bank and regularly develop monitoring indicators for women in development programmes.
Methodology for Research and Development
1. The participatory methodology is being widely popularized as an effective methodology for research and for creating change in developing countries. The strength of the case for this approach varies from one programme of development to another. Applying it to women in development programmes is likely to yield fruitful result in view of the strong emphasis of the sectoral policies on changing values, norms, perceptions, attitudes and orientations at all levels of society. The participatory approach, as applied to Gender And Development, will require the collaboration of policy makers, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Efforts should be made to organize training sessions on participatory methodologies for Gender And Development officials, Non Government Organisations and change agents at the different levels to acquire relevant skills for meaningful Gender And Development policy implementation.
National Rolling Plans
1. The National Rolling Plans show some degree of commitment to Gender And Development programmes. The intentions are clearly stated, but there has been too little action to back them up. The National Policy on Women requires a lot of action and collaboration between different organs of government, donor agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations etc. It would also require a lot of co-operation and co-ordination of efforts of various organizations and institutions for the achievement of its goal. A forum should be created for regular meetings of these collaborating agencies, including an inter-ministerial focal point meeting with other representatives.
Definition and Evaluation of Women's Work
1. The poverty of women hinges on their underdevelopment as a human resource. The sectoral policies therefore reinforce each other in the quest to develop women through the educational system and the labour market in particular. However, it is important to note that the success of these policies depends on the changes in the definition and evaluation of women's work. These shape society and are shaped by society to determine, for example, how willingly parents will send their daughters to school, husbands allow their wives to work. It would be necessary therefore for government to take the initiative in re-elevating women's work by modifying it into the system of national accounting. This informs some policy guidelines which mandate the registration of all categories of workers and requires regular estimate of the quantity and value of what is produced.
Social Mobilization and Advocacy
1. The National Policy on Women is a challenge to established power structures. It requires wide-ranging changes in the structure of society itself and also in social values. The policy, therefore, emphasizes the need for gender awareness by women themselves as the major socializing agents in society and as creators and guardians of culture and tradition. Women themselves must be willing to change the status quo, hence the different sectors of the policy's emphasis on awareness creation. Social mobilization and advocacy must take place at the government level, in the private, among community leaders, among men and among women themselves, for the process to be a success.
The International Environment
1. International politics and trade are important dimensions of economic development, which have had direct and indirect effects on the status of women in society. The "restructured economy" and how to cushion its adverse effects is addressed in this National Policy to succeed in attaining its goals. It is desirable, therefore, for Nigeria's creditors to consider seriously debt rescheduling, cancellation and other financial agencies need to establish Gender And Development departments, which may help to mitigate their position on debt, development and trade.
Restructuring Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)

Structural Adjustment Programme's short-term emphasis on economic growth has negated the benefits derived from its emphasis on the free market, efficiency, etc. The social costs of adjustment on women are too obvious to be neglected in the development of a National Policy on Women. After reviewing its impact on women in several Commonwealth countries, the consensus of the Expert Working Group in recommending action by Government, International Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations is that the approach to SAP should be broadened by ensuring that:
1. A higher proportion of international aid is channeled towards women's programmes.
2. International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to be committed to debt reduction and to substantially increase assistance to expand development needs.
3. Multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations should pay greater attention to the needs of women.
4. Government should review current strategies for restructuring the economy and chart a new course of action in view of its commitment to the development of women.
Resource Reallocation
Institutionalization of Gender And Development Programmes
1. Government has already put some structures in place for Gender And Development programmes. The various women programmes under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development have been decentralized to reach communities, while the women's ministries and Women in Development Units now form part of the administrative structures of the Federal, State and Local Government levels. These structures need to be retained and strengthened for effective response to the policies of gender awareness needed to perform efficiently within the GAD framework. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development which has been charged with the co-ordination of women's programmes must be provided with adequate human, financial and material resources to enable it perform its functions. Its relationship with the line ministries, Non Governmental Organizations and international partners must be designed to avoid duplication and to promote co-operation and development.
2. Now that Nigeria is operating a democratic system, appropriate committees should be set up to review laws and policies in order to protect the interests of vulnerable groups, particularly women. The media should be sensitized to generate awareness through their various organs, while informal channels of communication should be set up especially at the community level.

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18. General Proposals for Action

The policies proposed and the guidelines require two major categories of action; domestic and international.
Domestic Action
1. Domestic action involves government (federal, state and local government), Non Government Organizations, community leaders, women's organizations, religious leaders, youths and youth clubs and women themselves. The following actions are required:
Institutionalization of Gender And Development Policy
1. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development should be further capacitated as an important administrative arm of government for it to be able to perform its defined functions. In additions, Gender And Development (GAD) units should be strengthened in all line ministries and provided with the needed human and material resources to function effectively.
2. All functionaries involved in GAD programmes shall undergo GAD training programmes. State and Local Government Authorities shall be encouraged to use the National Policy on Women to prepare more comprehensive programmes of action in order to take care of the specific needs of their localities.
Data for Planning Purposes
1. The Federal Office of Statistics, the National Data Bank and all line ministries shall collect data that are relevant to gender planning. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development shall also co-ordinate the collection and collation of primary data at the State levels, Local Government Authorities and in collaboration with the relevant Non Governmental Organizations. Monitoring indicators will need to be developed to assist each of the line ministries.
Restructuring Economic Policies/Alternative Development Strategies
1. Government shall restructure economic policies as a long term programme of development or provide a growth and development-oriented alternative that will ensure the total integration of women into the development process as suggested in the policy guidelines and strategies.
Human Resources Development
1. Literacy is the key to the ultimate development of women. Priority must be accorded programmes in this sector because progress in other sectors depends on education. More funds shall be invested to improve the quality of education for women and they can only be fully integrated into society if provided with resources necessary for self-actualization and independence. Women in Agriculture Programmes need a tremendous boost in view of the limited scope and geographical coverage of current programmes. Land, credit and agricultural inputs are fundamental to improving the output of farmers. The participation of women in micro-enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises and in large-scale enterprises is an important dimension of national human resource development. Priority shall, however, be given to micro-enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises because of their wider coverage, and their potential for assisting women in building up capital, credit, technical and entrepreneurial skills. More extension workers shall be trained to support women industrialists. Investment in health is also a part of human resource development. Action in this sector requires more investment in health, access to health facilities and drugs, health education and support to Public Health Centers.
Environmental Protection
1. Environmental problems require urgent action because of the socio-economic costs, particularly to women. The most effective action will be at the community level where households, women's organizations and youth clubs, shall be mobilized for environmental education and preservation through awareness programmes, legislation and proper monitoring, planning and management.
Production of Labour Saving Devices
1. Small and Medium Enterprises and relevant government agencies, e.g. Project Research Organization and Development Association, (PRODA) have a major role to play in the production of basic appliances and goods which can ease household chores that compete for women's time. Women shall be encouraged to set up such enterprises as a way of orienting and supporting them in solving their own problems.
Legal Reforms
1. The importance of legal reforms cannot be overemphasized. It is envisaged that the National Policy on Women will stimulate government to reinforce existing relevant laws so that women will be adequately protected. The Ministry of Justice should rise up to this challenge and ensure the codification of the customary laws, which because they are poorly standardized, are difficult to enforce. For the effective implementation of the policy, the suggested codification will remove the contradictions between the legal systems and discourage the easy application of informal control through practices justified by customary law.

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19. International Action

A supportive International environment is fundamental to the implementation of the National Policy on Women. Without it, more of the underlying causes of the feminization of poverty would remain. Although it is desirable to solve the problem of poverty through external aid, this is a temporary and ineffective solution. The much more desirable and fundamental solution is for lending institutions to reschedule the nation's debts, revise the terms of lending and lend only to the productive sectors that can pay back the loans. Therefore, it is important that these institutions anticipate the potential inability of the debtor nations to pay back loans. The collection of reliable data on the sectors likely to be affected would assist in making correct judgments.
In view of the contemporary problems of women in this country and the resultant effect on their children and families, it is advisable that lending institutions invest a proportion of the interest collected in the economically productive areas on women's activities.
To facilitate international action, the following supportive domestic actions shall be taken:
1. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development shall compile a directory of women professionals in the country which would be used for purposes of nomination for international assignments as well as for appointments as the need arises. The directory shall be made available to the Nigerian government, (Federal, State), the United Nations and other international agencies.
2. The government shall adopt a deliberate policy to encourage more women to participate at international fora. This is in keeping with the affirmative action programme of the Government for women. More women will be nominated to fill international positions as well.
3. Government shall ensure that on matters arising on women's issues before the relevant committees of the United Nations and other international organizations, women should be nominated to speak on behalf of Nigeria.
4. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development should be strengthened to facilitate its liaison with relevant ministries and agencies in Nigeria, which have the responsibility for social services. In addition, Government should, through budgeting and capacity building, further empower the women's programmes of these Ministries and agencies.

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