Stakeholders task government to adequately fund gender equity programs across sectors

Precious Williams (Corper)/Mubarak Afolabi (Intern)

Stakeholders which include government officials, civil society organisations, gender and human rights advocates have urged the government to ensure dedicated funding to support the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Commission and gender equity programs across sectors.

Penpushing reports that the call was contained in a communique issued as the end of parliamentary dialogue on the diversity, equity and inclusive commission and gender mainstreaming frameworks held on Monday in Abeokuta.

The high-level dialogue was organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with Ogun State House of Assembly, Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), to advance legislative action on equity, social inclusion, gender-responsive governance, and community rights in the state.

Penpushing further reports that the other participants include development partners, academics, security agencies, youth and women groups, religious and traditional institutions, persons with disabilities, and media representatives.

The other resolutions are legislative action from Ogun State House of Assembly to prioritize the passage of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI)Commission Bill and review the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) draft bill for legislative adoption, while review committee will integrate recommendations from this dialogue into the final drafts of both bills.

Penpushing also reports that the resolutions noted need for institutional strengthening, as the stakeholders affirmed the need for capacity building for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and local government authorities on gender mainstreaming, anti-discrimination enforcement, and inclusive planning.

The resolutions in same vein identified continued engagement stressing that a technical validation session will be convened prior to the final House reading of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) and Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) bills.

Penpushing reports that the participants agreed on sustained partnerships with civil society and development partners to implement the provisions of the bills when enacted.

The communique explained that the purpose of the dialogue and objective was to present and review the draft Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Commission Bill; create legislative awareness of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) Bill; highlight ongoing gender mainstreaming initiatives, including the State Gender Policy, and women’s access to land, finance, and markets.

Penpushing further reports that the communique on key presentations explained that the draft bill was presented by the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) Safeguards and Gender Unit, outlining a robust legal framework structured in seven parts, with 46 clauses.

The bill seeks to  establish a statutory commission empowered to promote, enforce, and monitor equity and inclusion across sectors; prohibit all forms of discrimination in public, political, economic, and social life, advance gender equality, inclusion of persons with disabilities, rural dwellers, and other marginalized groups, and provide enforcement mechanisms and legal penalties for institutional or individual violations.

Penpushing also reports that stakeholders endorsed the bill as a transformative tool for achieving systemic inclusion, equitable development, and justice for all residents of Ogun State, Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) bill for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture

The communique added that a presentation on the Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) framework highlighted the importance of legislating land-based investments in a way that respects community rights, ensures transparency, and fosters gender and youth inclusion in agribusiness.

Penpushing reports that Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) bill seeks to protect customary landowners and communities affected by agricultural infrastructure or private-sector land use, mandates participatory consultation, compensation, grievance redress, and transparency in land acquisition; supports women and vulnerable groups’ secure access to land.

The legislators affirmed their commitment to reviewing and adopting the framework as a state law to align with international safeguards and national land governance standards, gender, Mainstreaming in Policy, Access to Land, and Economic Empowerment

Penpushing further reports that the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) Gender Specialist led discussions on the state’s gender mainstreaming efforts, which include:  Ogun State Gender Policy, providing a roadmap for institutionalizing gender-responsive planning and budgeting across MDAs;

The discussions equally touched on strategies to improve women’s access to land, including affirmative actions and land allocation policies through collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Bureau of Lands; and support for women’s access to finance and markets through enterprise development programs and private sector partnerships.

Penpushing also reports that the stakeholders emphasized the need for legislative support to enforce gender equity in access to resources and participation in the economic transformation of the state.

The dialogue reaffirmed Ogun State’s leadership in promoting inclusive and equitable governance, while the legislators, stakeholders, and technical experts jointly committed to transforming the outcomes of the meeting into concrete legislative milestones that advance the dignity, rights, and opportunities of all residents, regardless of gender, background, or circumstance.

Penpushing reports that the meeting resoled that House Committee on Women Affairs, Social Development and Poverty Alleviation will lead the review and harmonization of feedback from the dialogue for final presentation at the House plenary.

The stakeholders committed to continuing technical support and public sensitization to deepen public understanding and acceptance of the commission’s role, while it was equally agreed that a follow-up validation meeting be held before the Bill is passed into law.

Penpushing further reports that the dialogue ended with a reaffirmation of Ogun State’s commitment to inclusive governance, human dignity, and equal opportunity for all persons.

The communique was jointly signed by Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide(Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly), Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development Mosunmola Owo-Odusi (Project Coordinator, OGSTEP)

Penpushing also reports that other signatories  are Dr Abiola Akiode-Afolabi) Executive Director  Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre /Chairperson Penpushing Media Anniversary Committee), EwaJesu Fasina(Gender Specialist,Ogun State Economic Transformation Project) as well as representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Women Affairs, as well as representatives of Civil Society and Development Partners

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