By Nkechi Eze
Concerns over what it described as a gradual erosion of gains in women’s rights and gender inclusion in Nigeria took centre stage as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre marked the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day with a call for urgent reforms to reverse the trend.
The organisation warned that without deliberate and transformative policy actions, Nigeria risks losing years of progress made in advancing the rights, participation and socio-economic empowerment of women and girls.
In a statement issued to commemorate the global event, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said recent developments across governance, politics and the justice system point to a troubling slowdown—and in some cases reversal—of progress toward gender equality.
Rafsanjani acknowledged that public awareness on gender equality has improved over the years, but noted that deep-rooted structural barriers, discrimination and limited representation of women in leadership positions continue to undermine their full participation in Nigeria’s democratic and development processes.
He stressed that symbolic commitments to women’s empowerment are no longer sufficient, urging authorities to implement concrete reforms that address gaps in laws, policies and institutional practices affecting women and girls.
According to him, meaningful change would require deliberate restructuring of governance systems to ensure women are adequately represented and empowered across all levels of decision-making.
“Transformative changes in governance, legal frameworks and institutional practices are necessary to accelerate the development of women and girls in Nigeria. Without deliberate gender transformation, the progress we have made over the years risks being eroded,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC particularly criticised political parties for what it described as their weak commitment to gender balance in leadership structures and electoral processes.
The organisation argued that the absence of strong affirmative action policies within party systems continues to limit women’s access to both elective and appointive positions, thereby reducing their ability to influence policy decisions and national governance.
Beyond political participation, CISLAC also raised concerns over the economic challenges faced by many Nigerian women, noting that structural barriers continue to restrict their access to credit, financial services and broader economic opportunities.
The group warned that the persistence of what it described as “double poverty and exploitation” among women threatens inclusive economic growth and undermines national development goals.
Rafsanjani emphasised that economic empowerment remains one of the most effective pathways for lifting women out of poverty and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Ensuring women’s access to credit facilities, productive resources and economic opportunities is essential to achieving inclusive growth and sustainable national development,” he noted.
The organisation also expressed concern over the continued prevalence of gender-based violence in Nigeria, including attacks, kidnappings, harassment and other forms of abuse directed at women and girls.
CISLAC condemned attempts to justify or trivialise such violence and urged government authorities and law enforcement agencies to strengthen accountability mechanisms, ensure the protection of women and girls and guarantee justice for victims.
While recognising the resilience and contributions of Nigerian women across sectors such as governance, education, healthcare, business and community leadership, the organisation said greater institutional commitment is needed to dismantle the systemic barriers limiting women’s advancement.
It therefore called on government institutions, political parties, civil society groups and the private sector to work collectively toward strengthening legal protections, reforming policies and expanding economic opportunities that would promote gender equality across the country.
CISLAC reaffirmed its commitment to advocating transparency, accountability and inclusive governance, noting that the advancement of women’s rights remains central to Nigeria’s democratic progress and sustainable development.
