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Tuesday, March 8, 2022

“The only language that the lawmakers will understand is the language that will begin today.” - Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi(Executive Director, WARDC)

No Woman! No Nation!

Dear Active Citizens, The Nigerian government at federal, state, and local levels has consistently demonstrated disdain for its citizens.The disregard for citizens showed up again last week when the male-dominated National Assembly, Nigeria’s Parliament, voted on constitutional amendments. They voted as follows:1. Denied Nigerians in the diaspora the right to vote. This is despite the much favoured and needed remittances. Nigerians in the diaspora remitted $17.2 billion (seventeen billion dollars) in 2020 and the World Bank has projected the 2021 figure to be $17.6 billion! {Failed in both chambers}.2. Denied citizenship to the foreign-born husband of a Nigerian woman. However, a Nigerian man's foreign-born wife gets automatic citizenship. {Senate - Passed | HOR - Failed}.3. Denied women the ability to take indigeneship of their husband's state after 5 years of being together. This amendment is intended to address the injustice women who marry outside their states of origin face as they are unable to benefit from certain rights relating to employment, education, appointment, and election into a political and public office. {Senate - Passed | HOR - Failed}. 

From today till Thursday, Nigerian women will occupy the National Assembly in Abuja. Join them if you can! You should also call your Senator and House of Representative member. 

Don’t know who represents you? Visit www.shineyoureye.org.

If you are abroad or unable to join the rallies, you can lend your voice by signing 

the petition urging Nigerian lawmakers to amend the Constitution to recognise diasporans and women.

And It Was a Blast!

EiE was live at #AfricaNXT 2022 on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Gussi Toby, Executive Director, Girlhub Africa; Obinna Osisiogu, Convener, WeVote; and Adetola Onayemi, CEO, Norebase shared insights on practical ways that civic tech organisations can harness the voices of young people towards promoting good governance. The session was moderated by the Country Director of BudgIT, Gabriel Okeowo.Missed it? Catch up here!

Enjoy the rest of the week!The EiE Nigeria Team