Women inclusion is key strategy in the Niger delta _ Stakeholders

Stakeholders from the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group have advocated for increased inclusion of women in Nigeria’s extractive sector, emphasizing that this is essential for promoting gender justice and enhancing women’s participation in the governance of natural resources. They argue that such inclusion would ensure transparency in resource allocation and extractive justice for women.

In a communiqué issued after a recent roundtable in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, the group called for the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which supports a 30% campaign for women’s economic involvement in the sector.

The communiqué included several resolutions, such as the need for clear guidelines that encourage participatory decision-making and robust monitoring of consultations with host communities. The group emphasized that the PIA’s fiscal provisions should be communicated in straightforward language that is accessible to non-experts, including translations into local languages when necessary.

They stressed the importance of transparency in all aspects of the PIA’s execution and called for training and resources for representatives from host communities, particularly women, to help them understand the PIA’s fiscal framework. This training should cover financial literacy, legal rights, and the roles of community trustees, enabling them to participate effectively in decision-making and ensure accountability within the system.