History was made today as judgment was delivered in favour of Nigerian women at the Federal Hight Court Abuja!

The Federal High Court granted all the reliefs sought in the suit filed by women’s coalitions and organizations challenging the marginalization suffered  by women in the Nigerian political space. Some of the reliefs sought include:

(a)    A DECLARATION that the failure of the 1st defendant to implement the 35percent affirmative action policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria is illegal, unlawful, null and an arbitrary violation of the National Gender Policy, 2006.

(b)     A DECLARATION that the failure of the 1st defendant to implement the 35percent affirmative action policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria is illegal, unlawful and a violation of sections 42, 147 (3) and 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 19 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

(c)     A DECLARATION that the overwhelmingly predominant appointment of the male gender into decision making positions of the Federation is wrong, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates Sections 42,147(3) and 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and  does violate the right of the female gender to equal access to public offices.

(d)     AN INJUNCTION restraining the 1st Defendant from further exercising the Constitutional and Statutory power of appointment in a manner violative of the 35 percent affirmative action policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria as contained in the National Gender Policy, 2006.

(e)     AN ORDER MANDATING the respondents to henceforth comply with the principle of equality of the sexes in all appointments in compliance with Sections 42,147 (3) and 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 19 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

(f)     AND ANY OTHER The court may deem fit in this matter.

The litigation process which has been on since 2020 has ended with victory for Nigerian women. We can only hope that these clear interpretations of the constitution will provide an enabling environment for women in governance and politics in Nigeria.

Congratulations to us all.

Source: @womeninpoliticsforum