Nigeria’s problem is implementation of laws, says FIDA boss
The President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Amina Agbaje, says the challenge Nigeria is encumbered with is not the question of enabling laws but the problem of implementation of available ones.
Agbaje revealed that the country has a number of laws relevant for various purposes but not many are effectively used to advantage.
She made this disclosure on Monday, during a virtual meeting monitored by our correspondent, organised by Pathfinder International and She Forum Africa with the theme “partnership for goals: Advancing the gender agenda for sustainable development.”
Our correspondent reports that its a collaborative initiative to increase girls agency.
According to Agbaje, there was need for the country to focus less on enacting more laws, to directing attention to deliberate attempt to harness the existing laws to suit the situation.
She said, “What we see is appearance versus reality more particularly is the issue of implementation. It is one thing to have the laws and it is another to implement the laws to be able to maximise the full benefit of the law.
“So you find out that even though we have in court enforcement becomes an issue and we also find out that when we have the law in place you find out that to get the maximum punishment it becomes an issue.”
Agbaje continued saying, “that is unfortunately the quagmire that we found ourselves usually appearance versus reality.”
Also speaking, Country Director of ActionAid Ene Obi urged electorates to support presidential aspirants with women vice presidential slot.
She noted that there are alot of capable women that politicians could pick from, adding that “If there is a woman on the platform vote for the woman those that go there, go and vote for them.”
On her part, Country Director of Pathfinder International Dr. Amina Dorayi said the organisation would continue to give premium to issues pertaining to women.
Dorayi also advocated for special budget to cater for the treatment and prevention of gender-based violence in the society.
She said, “We will continue scale up our response in the health space to provide treatment and prevention of gender-based violence.”
