DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: GENDER GAPS IN NIGERIA’S STATUTES AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Abstract

The Nigerian population is largely tilted in favour of the female gender as opposed to the male population. Yet women and the
girl-child have remained the most vulnerable group due to entrenched systematic practices and laws which impose severe
restrictions and denial of their basic human rights. The findings of this study reveals that although anti-discriminatory laws exist
in the statute books, the problem is implementation and enforcement. Nigeria is a member of United Nations and
signatory to major treaties against discrimination and violence against women. Yet, discrimination and marginalisation of
women in economic development and in social and political spaces is rife. Being the most vulnerable group in the society,
Nigerian women still suffer as they are considered and treated as property in some cultures and as second class citizens due to the systemic discrimination they face on all front. The fact that these infringements are endorsed legally and institutionalised makes the situation even more dire. Using the doctrinal research methodology, the author found that Nigerian women continue to groan under the burden of marginalisation and discrimination at an era when their counterparts in other parts of the world are
reaping the dividends of the Beijing Conference of 1975, which represents a major turning point for women’s right and liberties
globally. For example, Focusing on some of these repressive and discriminatory laws as well as their impact on women in Nigeria,
the paper recommends inter alia, a repeal of these laws and customs towards achieving gender parity in the interest of social
justice.