The Gender Equality Opportunity (GEO) Bill which suffered major setback
in March this year, has been amended and was passed to the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, by the sponsor of the bill, Senator Abiodun
Olujimi today.
The bill which among other things was designed to address women’s
freedom of movement, female economic activity, girls’ access to
education, equal rights for women in marriage, divorce,
property/land ownership and inheritance, appropriate
measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and
prohibitions of violence to women, was rejected by majority of the male
senators as they felt the bill if passed will give women more power and
this according to them was against the African culture.
Some of the senators even alleged that the bill if passed will turn some
women into prostitutes and lesbians.
Anyway the bill has been amended. It passed its first reading today and
hopefully it would get accelerated hearing and will be passed into law.