Politics of Implementation: The Foray of National Gender Policy and Political Development of Women in South-west Nigeria

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on the national gender policy context in Nigeria. It surveyed how policy strategies translated into active mainstreaming of women in the politics of governability of the country. It argued that balancing gender distribution in institutions of governance is premium on the need to deconstruct structurally and socio-culturally induced thinking of gender roles which made reflective gender performance a mirage in Nigeria. This mirrors the saying that “only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches”, that is women are aptly positioned to generate and situate congressional debate on core women-related questions. Drawing on descriptive methodology, empirical data were sought from 375 respondents including political parties [PDP & APC], CDAs and CSOs. Increased sensitization, community mobilization, and a conducive political environment were linked to the policy implementation while affirmative action, gender mainstreaming, and women in elected party positions were ongoing mirages in the history of post-authoritarian gender advocacy in Nigeria. These latter findings cast heavy doubt on the institutional ladder through which women can legislate for their course in the Nigerian polity.