Women in Politics

Women’s participation in politics is an important discussion all over the world.

Data from UN Women shows that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and gender parity in politics is unbalanced. Women serve as Head of States or Government in only 22 countries in the world, and 119 countries have never had a women leader. At the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years; and in national parliaments globally, only 25% of all national parliamentarians are women. This proportion estimates that gender parity in national legislative bodies will not be achieved before 2063.

According to the 2021 Inter-Parliamentary Union Global Ranking for Women in Politics, Nigeria has the lowest number of female parliamentarians in sub-Sahara Africa and ranks 180 out of 190 countries. Nigeria is 148 out of 182 countries in the global ranking of women in ministerial positions. Although women make up about 49% of the country’s population and about 51% of them vote during elections, yet women are underrepresented in elective and appointive positions. As of 2019, the proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Nigeria stood at 3.38% (Index Mundi).

The National Gender Policy in Nigeria recommends that women should have 35% representation in both elective and appointive positions. African countries, Rwanda (61%) and South Africa (46%) are steps ahead of Nigeria in giving more women opportunities in politics. The UN Women states that in countries where women are engaged in the public sector, priorities are largely given to health and education. Research on panchayats (local councils) in India revealed that the number of drinking water projects in areas with women-led councils was 62% higher than in those of men. The established and growing evidence of the positive impact of women in political leadership suggests that countries like Nigeria may improve if more women participate in politics.  

A new constitution, strong on women’s rights was signed into law in Zimbabwe, resulting in women gaining 35% of the seats in parliaments in the country’s 2013 elections. That same year, the number of women legislators in Kenya rose to more than 20%, a double number when compared to the country’s previous elections. In 2012, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration authority registered more than 40 million women voters, this represents 86% of the country’s female population, and an increase of 44% from four years earlier. These signs of progress showed that sensitization campaigns, advocacies, legal and political reforms, all in support of women, play important roles in encouraging them to take part in politics.

With elections drawing closer, women in Nigeria can take a cue from the countries mentioned above. Gender biases enforced by religious and cultural norms in the country, such as those that impedes women from posting bail and engaging in political activities need to change. Empowerment and awareness programs like the ones organized by the National Women Trust Fund, aimed at increasing female representation in governance should be encouraged. Women’s gradual prominence in the Nigerian business sector has grown to 41%, a feat that should be replicated in the Nigerian political sphere.