Although Nigerian women continue to query the rationale behind the appeal filed by the Federal Government at the Court of Appeal, Abuja in July last year challenging a judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the enforcement of the National Gender Policy by allotting 35 percent of appointments in the public sector to women, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Emmanuel Jime, has revealed that the Council remains gender-sensitive, adding that it has surpassed the 45 percent affirmative action of the United Nations.
In the suit filed by Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) and a coalition of nine women groups, against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, seeking the mandatory implementation of National Gender Policy, Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High held that the non-implementation of the National Gender Policy on 35% affirmative action on the appointment of women into political positions was a breach of women’s fundamental rights and dismissed the position of the Respondents.
Unhappy with the verdict, the Nigerian government headed to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal seeking an order “setting aside the judgment; and striking out and/or dismissing the Respondents’ (women) suit in its entirety.”
The lawyers for Appellants (Federal Government and AGF; T. A. Gazali, SAN, T. D. Agbe, Suleiman Jibril, Ibukun Okoosi, Onyinye Halliday, O. D. Okoronkwo from Department of Civil Appeals Federal Ministry of Justice formulated 16 grounds of appeal for determination.
The government on one of its grounds submitted that: “The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the Respondents’ suit was founded on enforcement of fundamental rights, and therefore disclosed a cause of action against the Appellants.
“Particulars Of Error: The Respondents’ suit was for the enforcement of the National gender policy. The National gender policy for 35% affirmative action on the appointment of women is not based on Chapter 4 of the Constitution. The National gender policy was a Federal Government policy which cannot be enforced by way of fundamental rights enforcement proceedings.
However, Jime on the occasion of the ceremony to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) organised by the Women in Logistics and Transport Nigeria (WILAT), in Lagos, disclosed that the ports economic regulator has remained gender-friendly, adding that this could be seen in the number of women who hold top positions in the Council.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Ada Okam, further stated: “Precisely, women constitute 45 percent of the high-profile cadre as well as occupy other juicy positions.
“In line with embracing equity, the council has already trained over 65 percent of its female staff locally and abroad in different capacity building programmes to properly position them in the organisation.
“Council will do more where our female members of staff demonstrate the requisite capacity. I commend our female staff for showing capacity by performing excellently in their designated offices.”
Mrs. Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi who is Chairperson of WILAT, however, said the percentage of women in the maritime industry about 15 years ago was about seven.
She disclosed that in recent times women have been occupying more administrative positions.
She added that the number of women was not enough in the technical sector of the maritime industry, such as engineering and seafaring.
The National President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Mrs. Ufon Usoro called on the women to ensure that they create opportunities for themselves.
According to Usoro, “We should create opportunities and make the society to realise that we are hardworking, smart and ready to contribute.’
“You just need to rearrange yourself and do what the men do to get to the top,” she said.
“I am very pleased about the theme of the IWD which is equity through technology. We need to create opportunities for ourselves, encourage our girls to be good in science and mathematics because that is where you start if you want to be good at using technology.”
