Women underrepresentation and marginalization in Nigeria’s political and democratic governance may not be reversed soon judging from the male chauvinism and non-adherence to the Beijing declaration more than two decades ago.Women comprise about 49.32 % of Nigeria’s population, yet they are relegated to the background politically, economically and in governance.

Historically, politics has been a male-dominated occupation but many countries in the world have long before now started encouraging women to actively participate in politics. Improving women’s political participation and representation should be prioritized by the political elite, currently dominated by men folk in Nigeria.Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), guarantees the right to free assembly and association, including forming or joining political parties. However, women remain grossly underrepresented. The Beijing Declaration at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, stipulates that 35% of political positions be reserved for women; unfortunately, this provision has been jettioned in Nigeria by the male-dominated political class. Efforts by various groups to enforce this 35% affirmative action have met a brick wall.In March 2022, the National Assembly rejected a bill requiring affirmative action for women in political party administration and specific legislative seats. Again, another bill proposing special seats for women in the national and state assemblies was also defeated.Factors such as religion, cultural norms, nepotism, socioeconomic barriers, political violence, illiteracy among women, and contradictory government policies impede women’s political representation. These issues hinder the full realization of 35% affirmative action in the country’s political space. Proponents of women participation in politics have continued to urge the government to demonstrate more commitment to women representation and participation in politics by endorsing, adapting and domesticating international and regional human rights instruments. Promoting affirmative action to build a critical mass of women in leadership roles and reviewing practices that marginalize women should henceforth be a priority in the nation’s political engineering.Those who belong to the school of thought that lowering the bar for women to participate in politics is counterproductive must have a rethink and pause to critically look at countries which have reserved at least 35% political representation and participation for women. Such countries are making tremendous progress in socio-political development.For instance, Rwanda sits atop Africa’s continent, nay the world, with a female majority in the National Assembly with 63.75% in House of Representatives and 53.75% in the Senate. Also, a number of countries whose presidents and or vice presidents are women no doubt, are making steady progress in all indices of development.The highest number of women ever elected into the National Assembly is thirty-six in 2007 with twenty-seven in the House of Representatives and nine in the Senate. Since then, there has been a steady decline to thirty-two in 2011, twenty-two in 2015 and eleven in 2019. It further declined to a paltry four women out of the 109 seats in the Senate in 2023, representing a meagre 2.7%, in spite of strategies to improve women’s political representation in Nigeria.The history of any nation cannot be complete without equitable contribution of women, which mostly go uncelebrated. Women play significant roles in our homes, offices and businesses and provide support systems leading to stability, productivity and profitability.However, governments at all levels through their policies, programmes, budgeting and service delivery processes over the years have failed to address the structural and social disadvantages that inhibit gender mainstreaming. This has placed women greatly at a disadvantage, leading to their exclusion.The private sector is not also left out from the marginalization of women. They have mostly remained reluctant to respond to deep disadvantages that cripple women eligibility to access funding, mainly in the areas of collateral and interest rates. Special consideration must be given to women, because with greater gender equality or rather equity in both public and private sectors, the benefits would be far-reaching especially in reducing poverty among other socio-economic gains. Globally, governments and gender advocates have over the years come up with resolutions to accelerate gender inclusion.Platforms like the Conference on Women, 1975, which was the first international conference held by the United Nations to focus solely on women’s issues, marked a turning point in policy directives. Another major significant step as earlier mentioned was the Beijing Conference in China that provided the framework to extend the frontiers for gender mainstreaming. Since then significant but sometimes inconsistent progress has been made in advancing gender inclusion. Many countries have continued to enact laws and formulate policies, but implementation remains the challenge.For instance, as with other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, the enormous economic role played by women in the agricultural sector has remained barely supported and undervalued. In contrast to their male counterparts in agriculture, female participants in the sector have relatively narrow access to funding, inputs, training, extension services, land, technology, markets and decision making opportunities.Available reports have shown that female participants in the agriculture sector represent only 8% of landowners, access only 10% of available credit and 5% of extension services. This has restricted a large number of women at the level of subsistence farming, with the men dominating the commercial and lucrative aspect – largely exacerbating gender inequalities.Similarly, in politics women representation in terms of elective and appointive positions still leaves much to be desired.DAILY ASSET is of the opinion that the number of female ministers, commissioners and legislators at federal and state levels should be increased by a law duly passed by parliaments at national and sub-national levels and duly accented to by appropriate authorities. Through the acts of parliament, plans, policies, budget and service delivery become more gender sensitive to promote inclusion.Nigeria cannot make progress when half of the population is excluded from decision-making. Policy makers must keep to the axiom, ‘when you empower a woman you empower a nation.’

The growing insecurity in Nigeria – banditry, kidnappings, terrorism and other violent crimes, can rightly be described ‘a national calamity’ that requires the use of technology and intelligence to combat.Realising this, Plateau, a North Central state, grappling with worse security challenges, has announced its partnership with Biench UAS Limited to acquire military-grade drones for surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response by security agencies.

At the recent unveiling of Briech UAS-manufactured drones and missiles in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasized the critical role of technology in modern security operations. They noted that the partnership represents a fresh and innovative approach to tackling security threats in the State and the nation at large.Mutfwang, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their dedication to national security. He called on the Nigerian military to encourage local manufacturers in producing military-grade surveillance equipment tailored towards tackling the nation’s unique security challenges.He further highlighted the impact of the partnership, noting that the deployment of Briech UAS facilities in Plateau State has already enhanced the efficiency of security forces on the ground and expressed optimism that the collaboration would further strengthen security operations, ultimately restoring peace and enabling farmers to return safely to their fields.“The time is now to address these challenges that hinder national prosperity. One of my key aspirations for this year is to see Plateau State farmers return to their farms. The only way to achieve this is by providing them with adequate security coverage, both in the air and on the ground, ensuring their safety”, the governor stated.Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, lauded the innovation and initiative and assured that the Defence Headquarters would explore collaborative opportunities with the company to enhance national security efforts.“It is with great honour and appreciation that I witnessed the unveiling and live demonstration of the first set of locally manufactured attack drones by Briech UAS Limited. This marks a significant milestone in our nation’s journey toward self-reliance in defense technology and a major step in strengthening our security capabilities.”If properly utilized, the acquisition of cutting-edge surveillance technology and intelligence would significantly boost the capacity of security personnel to decisively combat criminal elements that are operating with different cells across the country.In fact, those technological advancements could contribute to securing victory over forces that have long destabilized the nation.Additionally, the cutting-edge technologies would provide critical intelligence to enable security forces to take swift and decisive actions against emerging threats.Moreover, in an era of increasingly complex security challenges, the adoption of advanced surveillance technology is pivotal to achieving optimal operational outcomes.The significance of the latest advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is a landmark achievement in the nation’s pursuit of enhanced security solutions hence the UAVs are equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies to enable them to detect and monitor activities that pose threats to national security.It is embarrassing, shameful and a monumental failure on the part of security agencies who for over two decades have been fighting insurgents, bandits, terrorists, arsonists and kidnappers without much success.In some instances, victims who fall prey to the criminals are brutally murdered while others are held in captivity under inhuman conditions for more than six months. Yet the criminals engage in telephone communication with security agencies and families of the victims without a clear cut way to track and attack them and rescue the innocent victims. This is an indictment on our security agencies.Recall when an American was kidnapped in a boarder town in Niger, a few years ago and trafficked across to Nigeria, the American seals, through the use of technology, tracked and promptly rescued one of their own in less than 24 hours.The Federal Government had acquired and equipped the Nigeria Air force with over 70 combat aircrafts in the last decade. Similarly, the combat equipment of the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Police and other paramilitary forces have been enhanced, yet non-state actors are daily devising new criminal methods of perpetuating insecurity rather than the security agencies caging them.DAILY ASSET urges the Nigerian security agencies to immediately start deploying emerging technologies as well as strengthen intelligence gathering to make the country safe just as the security agencies of advanced nations deploy technology to check criminal activities of non-state actors.We commend the local assembly and manufacturing of military-grade surveillance drones and missiles as a step in the right direction that should be tailored to the nation’s unique security challenges.

Recently Nigerian musician and social critic, Eedris Abdulkareem stirred up the hornet’s nest when he dominated the headlines over the ban of his new release ‘Tell your Papa.’ In the music, he criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government for throwing the nation into economic and social crises.

Abdulkareem, known for criticising bad governance, has for a period spanning over twenty years used his music to reflect on the state of the nation and point out faults and misdeeds of individuals or groups in government. So when “Tell Your Papa” hit the airwaves it was not surprising to the Nigerian public as they enjoyed and danced to it nostalgically. But the federal government was not comfortable with the message of the music. This development again put the musician at loggerheads with the-powers-that-be.Then came the hammer from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), swiftly banning ‘Tell your Papa’ from radio and television airwaves. The NBC cited powers it claimed to derive from Section 3:1.8 of the National Broadcasting Code, which empowers it to issue bans on abusive content.But pundits insist that the section cited by NBC no longer exists, with the only similar provision now found under Section 30:2.7.This section of the Code reads: ‘A programme or musical content classified as ‘Not To Be Broadcast’ (NTBB) shall not be broadcast.’ This appears, however, to be an arbitrary power inserted into the Code without any clear legal backing or justification.The song, according to a memo dated April 9 2025 and signed by Susan Obi, the coordinating director, broadcast monitoring, was deemed to be in violation of Section 3:1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.Justifying the ban the NBC said it considered the song’s content to be ‘inappropriate’ and ‘objectionable,” saying it violated public decency standards on broadcast platforms. The commission advised stations to ‘exercise discretion’ and avoid airing the song to maintain ‘responsible broadcasting standards.’ According to the statement, “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Abdulkareem, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature.Abdulkareem’s depiction of the current sufferings in the country may have infuriated the presidency about the fast-deteriorating living conditions in the country. The song highlights galloping inflation, rising crime, and worsening insecurity. ‘Tell your Papa Country hard.’ While accusing the president of implementing anti-people policies, with food prices, data costs, and school fees escalating, he urged him to look into the plight of Nigeria’s urban and rural poor. Thus, the government’s response banning the song from broadcast on radio and television stations nationwide was like killing the mosquito with a sledgehammer, thus further demonstrating the president’s increasing intolerance of criticism since assuming power.A cross-section of Nigerians view the ban as an affront to freedom of speech and a violation of the people’s rights to know. It is obvious that the song hit the federal government below the belt and perhaps what sparked the release of the now banned music could be the recent comments made by Seyi Tinubu publicly praising his father as the greatest Nigerian leader of all time.Abdulkareem did not take Seyi’s encomium on his father lightly. In his usual blunt style, he released the song in response, telling the younger Tinubu to “go and tell your papa” that Nigerians are not smiling at all. He has criticized several government policies past and present, particularly the controversial removal of fuel subsidies. Since the subsidy was removed, millions of Nigerians have felt the pang in their pockets – rising cost of transport fares, skyrocketing food prices and a general increase in the cost of living.Using the Cybercrimes Act, the government appears determined to silence critics, rather than addressing citizens’ genuine concerns about bad governance. Protests against government policies are frequently clamped down on. The planned peaceful protest by the Take It Back Movement in March was forcibly broken up in Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Lagos. Human rights advocates are increasingly alarmed by Nigeria’s descent into intolerance and authoritarianism under the Tinubu administrationAbdulkareem, a notable Nigerian rapper and former member of the hip-hop group – The Remedies. Known for his fearless voice and politically conscious lyrics, rose to national prominence in the early 2000s. After the group’s breakup in 2002.A true veteran of the Nigerian music scene, his journey encompasses several distinct chapters, each leaving a lasting mark.In 2022, the musician had a health challenge – kidney failure. Fortunately, he received a transplant from his wife in 2023. This experience shaped his recent music, with songs like ‘Thank You’ reflecting gratitude and ‘Ghetto Soldier’ highlighting resilience.DAILY ASSET posits that the government ought to have known that the era of silencing dissecting voices in the creative industry is over, due to several new media platforms to air contents all over the world whose servers are beyond the control of the Nigerian government.Moreover, the ban is a spark to further popularize Abdulkareem, his past and present music which might propel him a notch higher as a serial critic of bad governance in Nigeria through his musicAlso, Abdulkareem’s style of music reflects the frustration many Nigerians are facing as he questions how a president can be celebrated as great when the Nigerian people are suffering and starving. The ban is indeed a pointer to the increasing notoriety for intolerance and human rights violations by the nation’s political leadership.The current clampdown on opposition is a serious source of concern because the oxygen of constitutional democracy is freedom of expression and the right to ventilate one’s views. Gagging critics, intimidating opposition and suppressing freedom of expression, is definitely not the way to go.