Oxfam: FG Should Create Macro-economic Policy Environment that Increases Women’s Productive Capacity

Oxfam in Nigeria has called on the government to demonstrate political will to create a macro-economic policy environment that increases women’s productive capacity as full economic agents; and also increase investments in the agricultural sector.

Oxfam Country Director, Jan Rogge made the call in Abuja at the recent 2017 International Women Day, with the theme ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030’.

Rogge who was represented by the Associate Country Direc- tor, Evelyn Mere equally said there was need for government to create an enabling context with adequate infrastructure that enables women in the informal sector survive and thrive; as well as continue the reform of the tax system in Nigeria to foster equity and apply tax resources to increase public spending in key sectors such as agriculture, health and education.

Oxfam also called on the National Assembly to incorporate all ratified international treaties on women into domestic laws in order to make the National Gender Policy actionable, stressing that the executive must further work with the legislature to ensure passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities bills into law.

According to Rogge, “Oxfam calls on the Government of Nigeria to demonstrate political will to create a macro-economic policy environment that increases women’s productive capacity as full economic agents; increase investments in the agricultural sector and create special incentives targeted at women to enhance economic opportunities, productivity and women’s incomes.”

Rogge lamented that Nigeria has been classified as one of the most unequal countries in the world, stressing that the lives of Nigerian women are affected by a myriad of discriminatory traditional and socio-cultural practices which put them at a disadvantage in a number of areas compared to men.

“As a result of these disadvantages, women are more likely to be poor than men. In 2016, Nigeria ranked 118 out of 144 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index, having gained seven places from the previous year. Though a marginal gain, a lot still needs to be done to put Nigeria in a better ranking order,” Mere noted.