Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday held that the National Gender Policy is not merely a policy statement but one that must be backed with requisite action on the part of the government.
He said the 35% affirmative action which entails appointive positions for women to ensure inclusivity must not be merely on paper as Nigeria is a signatory to International Treaties, particularly on those entrenching the rights of women.
Delivering judgement in a suit filed by some women groups challenging the marginalisation of women by the Federal Government, Justice Okorowo, dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants, including President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
The Judge agreed with the plaintiffs that the lopsided appointments by the Buhari-led government were unlawful and an arbitrary violation of the National Gender Policy 2006, sections 42, 147 (3) and 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and Articles 2, 13 (2) and (3) and Article 19 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.
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