Niger Delta Organization Calls For Legislation To Strengthen Women’s Rights

Niger Delta Organization Calls For Legislation To Strengthen Women’s Rights

The Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDBMG) has urged the National Assembly to create legislation requiring that one percent of the three percent operating expenditure from oil and gas companies be dedicated to women empowerment programs in host communities. This initiative aims to tackle the marginalization of women in these areas, who often bear the brunt of the environmental and socio-economic repercussions of oil exploration and production…….CONTINUE READING 

The call was made in a communique following a one-day governmental colloquium focused on Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act and the Host Communities Fund. The NDBMG emphasized that women in the Niger Delta encounter significant obstacles, including limited access to economic opportunities, healthcare, and education.

“We advocate for new laws mandating a minimum of one percent of the three percent operating expenditure from oil and gas companies to be allocated for women’s empowerment initiatives in host communities,” the group stated.

Additionally, the organization called for enhanced transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act. This includes demands for public disclosure of all payments made by oil companies, comprehensive records of fund allocation and expenditures, and regular audits of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund.

The NDBMG stressed the importance of inclusive decision-making processes, insisting that women should be represented in discussions regarding the allocation and management of funds from the Host Communities Development Trust. Furthermore, they called for consistent monitoring and evaluation of all projects funded by the three percent host communities fund to ensure alignment with community needs, particularly those of women, thus contributing effectively to sustainable development.