• As Bauchi Speaker insist on collaboration

By Olayinka Ajayi

The Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mojisola Meranda has commended Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, Not Government Organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders on their unwavering dedication to the ideals of fairness, justice, and social progress in Nigeria.

Speaking during a two-day co-creation workshop on the State Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Bill organized by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre ,WARDC, Meranda, in her address to other State Assembly Speakers and deputy speakers present, insisted that the presence of CSOs at the workshop is a testament to the shared commitment they have towards building a “more just and inclusive society.

She said, Gender inequality remains a pressing issue. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, Nigeria ranks 125th out of 146 countries in gender parity, particularly in economic participation and political empowerment. These statistics underscore the urgency for legislative intervention and policy transformation.

“The importance of a co-created bill cannot be overstated. We are not here to impose generic solutions but to co-create a context-specific bill tailored to the realities of Nigeria and our respective states. This means listening to the voices of marginalized communities, understanding their challenges, and integrating their perspectives into the legislative process.

We must ensure that this bill does not remain a mere document but becomes a dynamic tool for change—one that establishes clear implementation mechanisms, enforcement strategies, and monitoring frameworks.”.

She further urged other speakers to recognize the critical role of legislation in shaping an equitable society. “The need for a comprehensive bill addressing inclusivity and diversity in Nigeria cannot be overstated. Such a bill will dismantle systemic inequalities, ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources, promote gender equality, creating a fairer society for women and girls, empower persons with disabilities, ensuring their full participation in social and economic life, bridge the economic divide, supporting low-income individuals through inclusive policies, foster social cohesion, promoting unity amidst Nigeria’s rich diversity, and align Nigeria with global development goals, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Beyond legislation, we must commit to effective implementation, adequate funding, and continuous monitoring to ensure that the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are fully realized.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly remains committed to supporting this cause and ensuring that our legislative frameworks align with the principles of equity and inclusion. We will continue to provide the necessary backing to ensure that the objectives of the workshop translate into tangible policy actions that impact lives across the nation.”.

On his part, the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman; in his address posited that collaboration by all stakeholders is key in actualisation of it being signed into law.

He said, “it’s has to be a shared responsibility. No single entity, especially the government, can solely carry the burden of enacting and enforcing the State Equity Bill. We all have a part to play.

“My fellow members of the House of Assembly, development partners, civil society organizations, your participation in policy making, advocacy work, research, and bottom-up activism is very important. Let us work together to facilitate acceptance from the general public and guarantee its effective utilization”

The event was organised by WARDC in collaboration with the Bauchi State Government, Women in Politics Forum, WIPF, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, and various donor agencies, including Canada Global Affairs and UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment for Women).