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UN CSW69: A postscript and impact for Nigeria
By Jumai Ahmadu
In a world striving for sustainable development, the recent Political Declaration emerging from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) serves as both a beacon of hope and a call to action.
At the just consluded 69th Commission on The Status of Women (CSW69), that held for two weeks at the United Nations (UN) in New York, member states welcomed and adopted strong political declaration, committing to respect, protect and promote rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.
With its affirmation that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are essential for achieving a sustainable future, this declaration challenges us to reflect on our progress, and our shortcomings, over the past three decades.
Our shared mission is one that resonates deeply with the principles of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which has long served as a roadmap for advancing gender equality and promoting sustainable development on a global scale.
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, governments have adopted by consensus a powerful political declaration to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls.
Despite the passage of 30 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women, it is starkly evident that no country has fully realized the vision of gender equality. Major gaps and obstacles persist, leaving countless women and girls behind. The Declaration not only recognizes these challenges but also galvanizes us to act.
A good news is that Namibia has become the first country in African continent to have women as both President and Vice.
The new President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, found it befitting to appoint a female, Lucia Witbooi as her Vice President.
The new Namibian President also reduced cabinet from 26 to 14 ministers and 7 deputies. 8 of the ministers are women.
Confronting gender-based violence in all its forms—from online harassment to sexual violence in conflict—is another vital aspect of this agenda. We cannot claim to foster equality while allowing such violence to persist unchecked.
Moreover, the Declaration emphasizes the importance of women’s equal participation in decision-making processes.
Representation matters; when women are involved in shaping policies, the outcomes are more likely to consider the needs of all segments of society. This leads to more comprehensive solutions to pressing issues, such as climate change, health care, and education.
In an increasingly digital world, ensuring that women and girls have access to these fields is essential for fostering innovation and economic growth. By equipping them with the skills needed for the future, we empower them to take their rightful place in society.
The declaration also underscores the necessity of strengthening our commitment to human rights, addressing intersecting forms of discrimination that many women face. This nuanced approach is crucial if we are to create a truly inclusive society.
Women must be at the table where decisions are made that affect our world.
In conclusion, the Political Declaration is both a commitment and a challenge. It implores us to recognize our achievements while acknowledging the work that remains. As we move forward, let us embrace this call to action, ensuring that we not only promise change but also deliver it for the women and girls who deserve nothing less.
The Political Declaration’s steps forward are substantial, demanding that we:
1) Advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda with financing for National Action Plans;
2) confront gender-based violence in all its forms—from the online threats to sexual violence in conflict;
3) ensure women’s equal participation in decision-making;
4) invest in education, STEM, and digital inclusion;
5) strengthen our commitment to human rights addressing intersecting forms of discrimination;
6) deliver concrete policies on care and social protection; and
7) hold ourselves accountable—ensuring that funding and data drive real progress on gender equality.
The Declaration also reaffirms our shared commitment:
– to CSW revitalization,
-to the Pact for the Future, and
– the Secretary-General’s System-wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan.
And it calls for :
-the nomination of women for future UN leadership positions,
-for Secretary-General, and for President of the General Assembly.
No nation has yet fully achieved gender equality. This bold Declaration makes clear that the world’s governments recognize 2025 as a pivotal moment, where promises made 30 years ago can no longer be deferred.
Rising to the challenges and opportunities of gender equality requires collective, decisive action across member states, now more than ever. At a time when hard-fought gains for gender equality are under attack the global community has come together in a show of unity for all women and girls, everywhere.
As we reflect on the progress made over the last decades, we must also acknowledge the challenges that persist. These include economic disenfranchisement and inequality that affect diverse youth and women disproportionately, undermining their potential and resilience.
It is our collective responsibility to address these barriers through proactive collaboration and creative solutions.
The transformative power of economic empowerment is an initiative that have provided countless individuals with the skills, resources, and support they need to break free from the cycle of poverty and contribute positively to their communities.
We believe that when women and youths are empowered, families thrive, economies flourish, and societies prosper.
We hereby reaffirm our commitment to empowering women and diverse youths as we strive to create a future where equity, opportunity, and justice are accessible to everyone.
Dr. (Mrs.) Jumai Ahmadu is Ag. Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, FCTA, Social Entrepreneur and President, Helpline Social Support Initiative, Abuja
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The competition and consumer protection tribunal has upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement on Friday by Ondaje Ijagwu, the agency’s director for corporate affairs, FCCPC said the tribunal also awarded $35,000 to the commission as the cost of investigation.
On July 19, 2024, FCCPC imposed a fine of $220 million on Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, for multiple data privacy violations.
However, Meta said it would appeal the fine.
The case stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into the privacy practices and consumer data policies of WhatsApp and Meta.
Delivering judgment on Thursday in Abuja, the tribunal led by Thomas Okosun ruled that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and statutory powers in investigating and sanctioning the companies for alleged anti-competitive and exploitative practices.
The tribunal dismissed the appeals filed by Meta and WhatsApp, which challenged the legal basis of the commission’s findings and orders.
Instead, it upheld the commission’s position on nearly all contested issues.
Gbolahan Elias (SAN) led WhatsApp and Meta’s legal teams, while Babatunde Irukera led the FCCPC’s legal team.
According to the statement, both teams had made their final arguments on behalf of their respective clients on January 28.
‘FCCPC ADHERED TO DUE PROCESS’
The tribunal, in its ruling, found that the FCCPC adhered to due process and acted within the law.
It resolved issues one to seven primarily in favour of the commission.
“The Tribunal resolved Issues 1 to 7 largely in favour of the FCCPC, dismissing the appellants’ objections to the Commission’s findings, orders, and legal competence,” the statement reads.
“One of the central issues (Issue 3), which alleged a breach of fair hearing, was decided in favour of the Commission, with the Tribunal affirming that the FCCPC fully discharged its quasi-judicial responsibilities by affording the appellants ample opportunity to respond.
“The Tribunal found no violation of constitutional due process.
“On Issue 4, which questioned the Commission’s powers in data protection and privacy, the Tribunal held that the FCCPC acted within its statutory mandate, reaffirming its authority under Section 104 of the FCCPA to regulate competition and consumer protection even in regulated industries.
“On Issue 5, which challenged the Commission’s findings regarding Meta’s privacy policies, the tribunal also resolved in the FCCPC’s favour.
“The Tribunal found no error in the Commission’s conclusions and held that the privacy policy in question did, in fact, offend Nigerian law.
“While issue 7 was largely resolved in favour of the commission, the tribunal set aside Order 7 of the commission’s final order, stating that it lacked sufficient legal basis.”
Commenting on the judgment, Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the FCCPC, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a landmark judgment reinforcing the commission’s mandate to protect consumers and ensure fair market practices.
He commended the commission’s legal team for their diligence.
Bello reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to enforcing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
A group known as the Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership has strongly condemned the escalating crisis in Zamfara State, calling for a state of emergency to be declared due to Governor Dauda Lawal’s alleged disregard for the rule of law and inaction on insecurity.
The group cited the ongoing power tussle between the governor and the Zamfara State House of Assembly, which has resulted in two parallel leaderships and a breakdown in governance.
The group’s executive director, Patriot Abel Adams, expressed deep concern over the state’s worsening security situation, with 14 local government councils experiencing rampant insecurity, killings, and destruction of properties.
Adams accused Governor Lawal of being one of the worst-performing governors in the country, lacking the capacity to govern and engaging in frivolous spending while the people suffered.
According to Adams, the governor’s actions have emboldened bandits and kidnappers, who have sacked whole communities and made life unbearable for the people of the state.
“Rather than strenuously work at eliminating the hydra-headed challenges of poverty, kidnapping, and banditry, the governor would rather engage in frivolous spending, make hypocritical sympathy visits to victims of the almost daily attacks and the families of the dead,” Adams said.
The group also criticised Lawal for presenting the state’s 2025 budget to an illegitimate assembly leadership, further exacerbating the crisis.
They pointed out that the governor’s actions are a clear disregard for the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers, which are fundamental to democracy.
“The governor should know that the same election that brought him to office and grants legitimacy to him as the governor is the same election that guarantees constitutional powers to the members of the State House of Assembly to act and represent their constituencies,” Adams said.
“No authority confers on him a more deserving priority order than that he is the governor of the State and must act within the constitutional allowance of his office.
“He is required to observe the principles of the rule of law, the principles of separation of powers and the observance of Checks and Balance, tenets without which democracy is no longer democracy but authoritarianism.
“The governor in failing to truly understand the tenets of democracy and uphold same, has also failed to take a cursory look at the House Standing Rules, but instead has gone on a miserable sightseeing, thinking that as a governor he has total tyrannical control and that the State Legislators are stooges and thus intends to turn them to effective rubber stamps.
“He failed woefully and has mis-constructed and misconstrued our democracy and the separation of powers, undermining it and insulting our collective sensibilities. He also underestimated the resilience of the 24 gallant patriots of democracy.
“Unfortunately, he is left with no option but must obey the new leadership of the House of Assembly or face the wrath of the people in an escalating crisis, which will make the State completely ungovernable for him and directly compel a declaration of the State of Emergency.
“We believe that the governor’s actions are a recipe for chaos and anarchy, and it’s only a matter of time before the situation becomes ungovernable. We call on the authorities to intervene and restore order in Zamfara State, ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.”
The Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership also commended the 10 lawmakers who have been fighting for their rights and the rights of their constituents, despite facing intimidation and harassment from the governor’s camp.
“These lawmakers have shown courage and conviction in standing up for what is right, and we urge them to continue to defend the interests of their constituents,” Adams said.
The group’s call for a state of emergency in Zamfara State is based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), which empowers the president to declare a state of emergency in a state where the structure of government has broken down.
“We believe that the situation in Zamfara State meets this criteria, and it’s imperative that the authorities take swift action to restore order and stability,” Adams said.
The group warned that if the situation is not addressed, it could lead to further escalation of violence, displacement of people, and humanitarian crisis.
They urged the authorities to take immediate action to address the security challenges and ensure that the government is accountable to the people.
The Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership urged the authorities to take immediate action to restore order and stability in Zamfara State, ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.