A Review of National Assembly Efforts at Addressing Political Violence against Women Aminu Umar Ph. D Stakeholders Roundtable with Policymakers on “Addressing Political Violence Against Women” Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja Wednesdays 29 th November, 2017.
National Assembly üSection 47, 48 and 49 prescribe that there shall be National Assembly for the federation consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives üIt consist of ‘ 3’ major organs and ‘ 3’ subsidiary organs. Namely; üSenate 109 members: ‘ 3’ from each of the 36 states and 1 from FCT üHouse of Representatives: 360 members based on population üManagement
NASS SUBSIDIARY ORGANS ü National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) – Personnel Matters ü National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) - Technical Arm of NASS ü National Assembly Budget & Research Office (NABRO) – Budget Services ü Public Complaints Commission
POLITICAL VIOLENCE • Political violence is a broad term used to describe violence perpetrated by either persons or governments to achieve political goals. • Political violence is hostile or aggressive acts motivated by a desire to affect change in the government. • Crime and warfare share some attributes with political violence, but is highly contentious among political scientists
Forms of Political Violence • • Revolution – Total regime change Coup d’état – Elites overthrow of government Kidnapping Riot Rape Bombing Genocide/Ethnic Cleansing Terrorism i. e. the use of violence to achieve a political goal – State-sponsored terrorism e. g. genocide, war crimes, torture, etc. – Guerrilla war i. e. non-state actors targeting the state
Why Political Violence? Scholars who seek to explain political violence use three categories of factors (Oneil, 2011): • Institutional - explanations for political violence focus on how state, economic, or social systems contribute to political violence. • Ideational - explanations focus on the effect of political, religious, cultural ideas in causing political violence. • Individual - explanations focus on what motivates individual people to engage in political violence—
Stylized Facts on Violence Against Women • The 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (DHS) – ‘ 28 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence at least once. • Seven per cent of women have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. • Only 31% of women who have ever experienced physical or sexual violence have sought help to stop violence. More than 70% of women who sought help did so from their own family - DHS. • There is also the reality that the different forms of violence against women and girls are often ignored and disregarded in the country – regardless of class,
NASS EFFORTS on Political Violence Against Women in Nigeria
Motions • June 2015 Updated Till - 15/06/2017 • MOTIONS INTRODUCED ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE - 1075 • • Motion Passed as Resolution - 126 Motions Negatived 5 Motions Withdrawn 17 Motions Referred to Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees - 926 • Motions Differed 1 • Total = 1075
Motions: A Glance S/N 1. TITLE OF MOTION SPONSOR(S) DATE OF DEBATE/RE FERRAL Senseless Killing of Hon. Chinda 10/6/2015 Youth Corp Members Kingsley Ogundu 2 Violent Terror attacks Hon. Istifanus 24/6/2015 on the people of D. Gyang Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State by Unknown Gunmen 3 Need to Undertake Hon. Kingsley 30/7/2015 Further Investigations Chinda RESOLUTIONS (i) Observe a minute silence in honour of the late Corper and all Corp members who lost their lives in the course of service to their fatherland; (ii) Urge the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to immediately take steps to secure Corp members, as well as improve on their conditions of service; (iii) Further urge the Nigeria Police to thoroughly investigate and bring the culprit who murdered the Youth Corper in Imo State to justice speedily (HR. 01/2015). ETC. (i) Condemn the terror attacks and mass killings in strong terms and sympathize with the displaced and traumatized victims; (ii) Urge the Executive Arm of Government to direct the Special Task Force (STF) to be more decisive and proactive in curtailing the terror attacks and recover occupied territories; (iii) Again urge the Executive Arm of Government to include surviving and displaced victims who are now destitute in its plan of rehabilitating and resettling victims of terror attacks in the North East region; (iv) Urge the Executive Arm of Government to deploy its trauma management capacity to attend to the traumatized victims; (v) Also urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to administer immediate relief materials and assistance to the displaced victims (HR. 03/2015). ETC. Matter referred to the Committees on Police Affairs, and Public Safety and National Security (when constituted) pursuant to Order
Cont. S/N TITLE OF MOTION SPONSOR(S) DATE OF DEBATE/RE FERRAL 4 Need to Arrest the Incessant Hon. Goodluck 25/10/2017 Killing of People and Nanah Opiah Destruction of Property by Rival Cult Groups in Awarra Court Area of Ohaji / Egbema Local Government Area, Imo State. RESOLUTIONS (i) (iii) (iv) 5 6 Urgent Need for Recruitment Hon. Uzoma 11/8/2015 of More Police Personnel, Nkem-Abonta Improvement of Police Welfare and Bridging of the Wide Gap in Policing the Country Calling on the Federal Hon. Asabe 13/10/2015 Government to Intensify Efforts Vilita Bashir to Rescue the 219 Abducted Chibok Girls (i) (ii) Commend the security agencies in Imo State for their efforts to curtail the protracted crisis; Urge the Government of Imo State to be more pro – active towards bringing the cult war to an end; Also urge the Inspector – general of Police and the Chief of Army Staff to deploy more men and resources to strengthen the joint Task Force in Awarra Court Area and the entire border communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. Mandate the Committees on Police Affairs, Army, and National Security and Intelligence to ensure implementation and report back in four (4) weeks for further legislative action; a. (HR. 132/2017) ETC. Call on the Police Service Commission to accede to the call for the recruitment of more Police personnel as a way of bridging the current low number of Police Officers/men in order to enhance Police operations in the country; Mandate the Committees on Appropriations, Police Affairs, and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to investigate the status of the N 8 Billion appropriated for Police recruitments in the 2014 Appropriation Act, which funds were sourced by deducting N 8 Billion from the National Assembly budget and report back to the House within one month; ETC (HR. 38/2015) ………………………………. . (i)observe a minute silence in honor of the departed souls of the 17 parents of the abducted girls who have died since the abduction;
Cont. S/N TITLE OF MOTION 7 Urgent Need to Tackle Hon. Nassir Ali 14/10/201 the Trends of Ahmed 5 Kidnapping in Nigeria 8 The Fate of Orphen Hon. Asabe 27/04/201 Children in the Vilita Bashir 6 Internally Displaced Persons Camps Across the Country. 9 SPONSOR(S) DATE OF DEBATE/RE FERRAL Need for the Indepent Hon. Shadimu 14/6/2016 National Electoral Mutiu Commission to Release Outstanding Voters’ Cards not RESOLUTIONS (i) Mandate the Committee on Police Affair (when constituted) to urgently convene a public hearing of all stakeholders on community based actions against kidnaping; (ii) urge the Inspector General of Police to train and deploy a crack team of Two Hundred (200) Policemen per State on the peculiar crime dynamics necessary for curbing kidnap operations in every State; and (iii) appeal to State Governments and all law enforcement bodies to strictly implement their anti-kidnap laws' by imposing the maximum penalties on offenders (HR. 114/2015). (i) Urge the Federal Government to locate and reunite orphans in IDPs’ Camps with their relatives; (ii) Also urge the Federal Government to send orphans who don’t have relatives to orphan homes and make arrangements for their upkeep; and (iii) Further urge the Federal Government to invite good-hearted Nigerians willing to adopt these children to come forward and adopt them while in the camps. (HR. 147/2016). ETC. -- Motion referred to the Committee on Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees and Initiatives on the North East (IDPs). (i) Urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately embark on distribution of Voters’ Cards not distributed before the last Elections; (ii) Also urge INEC to embark on continuous registration of Voters and distribution of Voters’ Cards;
Cont. S/N TITLE OF MOTION SPONSOR(S) DATE OF DEBATE/RE FERRAL RESOLUTIONS 10 Death Resulting from Hon. Rita Orji the Abuse of the Pain Killer Drug, Tramadol. 14/7/2016 Mandate the Committee on Drugs and Narcotics to liase with the heads of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and NAFDAC tp excuse the Following; (i)Ensure that manufacturers and Marketers must be requiredto give adequate consultations and information to patients on the correct and safe use of Tramadol purchased and on the preservation of medicinal products; (ii)Identify, track and prevent inappropriate patterns of prescription and intergrate prescription drug monitoring team or task force; and (iii)Work with media outlets, Healthcare Services Committee, advocacies and retailers to reduce drug abuse an implement programs to that effect (HR. 42/2016). (i) Urge the National Universities Commission to introduce Women and gender Studies as a compulsory general studies course in Universities in Nigeria and develop a curriculum to make it a full degree course before the end of 2017; and (ii) Mandate the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance (HR. 66/2016). (ii) Urge thirty Six (36) States Houses of Assembly to adopt the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 in their various States to ensure a nationwide commitment for legislative action to protect all vulnerable persons, especially women and girls; 11 Call for introduction of Hon. Women and Gender Ngwu Studies in Nigerian Universities 12 Need to Observe the Hon. Abubakar 6/12/2016 Sixteen (16) Yunusa Ahmed Days of Activism against Gender Based -Violence and Call for Nationwide Adoption Stella 21/07/201 6 (iii) Mandate the Committees on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Refugees and Initiatives on North East Zone, Human
BILLS • Dispute Resolution Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Bill 2011. 06/10/2011 Hon. Leo Ogor • HB. 70 Nigerians with Disabilities Bill, 2011. Hon Abike Dabiri -Erewa 24/5/2012 • HB. 118 Witness Protection Programme Bill. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha • HB. 191 Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2012. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa • HB. 76 Kidnapping and Hostage Taking (Prohibition) Bill 2011 • HB 391 Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill 2013 Hon. Aishatu Dahiru Binani
Cont. • HB: 120 Anti –Torture Bill – 2011 Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha • HB: 124 Use Torture Prohibition Bill, 2012 – Hon. A. T Sam-Tsokwa • HB: 249 Anti-violence against Women and Children, 2012. Hon. Baballe Ila • HB: 265 Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha • HB 325 Crimes against Humanity, War crimes, Genocide and Related Offences Bill, 2012 – Executive Bill
Cont. • HB: 350 Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Bill, 2012 – Hon. Nkem Abonta • HB: 388 Women and Girls Advancement Bill, 2012. – Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa • HB: 461 Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2013 - Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje & Hon. Sokonte Davies • Fire Arms Act, Cap F 28 LFN, 204 (Amendment) Bill, 2013 – Hon. Dakuku Peterside • Fundamental Human Rights (Limitation) and Modification) Bill, 2013 – Hon. Segun Williams • HB: 633 Widows Protection Bill, 2013 – Hon. Victor Afam Ogene • HB: 717 National Hospital for Women and Children Abuja
Cont. ü Constitutional Amendment to further entrench the rights of Nigeria ü People’s Public Session on the review the Nigerian Constitution – 7 th Assembly ü Amendment of the Electoral Act No 6 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2017 to make provisions for the restriction of the qualification for elective office to relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); use of Card Readers and other technological devices in elections; and other matters.
Cont. • Death of Late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was a major test of the Nigeria’s legislative competence on political violence against women i. e. – NASS invoked the Doctrine of Necessity, failure of which would have created a vacuum and political violence mayhem or killing, sexual assault, etc. on women in the country – Election of Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh (Ayedaade/Isokan/Irowole Federal Constituency) as Speaker of the House of Representatives • Establishment of the NASS Gender Unit i. e. GTU by the 6 th Assembly i. e. House of Representatives (Under Rt. Hon. Demeji Bankole) – The Unit provided umbrella for women civil society groups e. g. Legislative Advocacy for Violence against Women –
The VAPP Act • On May 25 th 2015 the Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan recorded a milestone - signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015. • The law protects women and girls from all forms of violence. Private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, Physical Sexual, Psychological, Domestic, Political, etc. • Provides maximum protection and effective
Shortcomings of the VAPP Act • Federal Structure - Limited application to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. • Though, some states e. g. Lagos, Ekiti, Enugu, Ogun etc. have taken measures to localise the Act into state Law. • Duplicity of laws is another major downside of the Act given that most of the crimes stipulated in the VAPP are provided for in the existing criminal laws and also there are provisions for liberty of the citizen in sections 35, 40, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Concluding Remarks Violence or political violence against women is an act that can adequately be confronted in contemporary world through numerous legislative mechanism e. g. motions/resolution, Bills, Act, etc. However, women should take the lead of such struggle through promoting unity among their folk and encouraging men to join the fight. This is largely because the greatest threat to women successes are women themselves. Therefore, efforts to win legislative support and action should begin with women through unity, empathy, capacity building, empowerment, etc.
Thank You
References • DHS 2013 Survey. Nigeria 2013 demographic and health Survey. Key Findings Available at https: //dhsprogram. com/pubs/pdf/SR 213. pdf • Electoral Act 2010 as amended • Olukorede, Y. (2002). 2003: A do - or - die affairs? The Source Magazine, June 3, p. 23 • Oneil, P. H. (2011) Essentials of Comparative Politics. Available at http: //www. wwnorton. com/college/polisci/compol 4/ch/07/chapter Review. aspx • VAPP Act 2015
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