The gender equality bill encountered a setback in the Senate recently when two senators from the North rejected the bill on religious grounds.
The gender equality bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Abiodun Olujimi.
When the bill was presented at the plenary, the two lawmakers – Abubakar Yusuf and Aliyu Wamako, kicked against it and said the content of the bill contradicts Islam and cultural values in the North.
Meanwhile, in her presentation, Olujimi said the bill would stop every form of discrimination against women.
Yusuf, who represents Taraba Central Senatorial District, countered his colleague by saying the bill was not properly worded.
He maintained that the bill would contravene the tenets of Islam because of its quest for equality rather than equity.
He said: “This equality infringes on the Quran. I will not support the passage of the bill until the word equality is removed. When you bring equality into it, it clearly infringes on the Quran.”
In the same vein, Wammako, former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed that he would not support the bill in its current state.
He said: “When it comes to socio-cultural practices, it is wrong. When you talk of equity, it is okay, but when you talk of equality, I will not support it.”
