Nigeria’s Women Leadership Coalition Seeks Modern Labour Reforms, Stronger Gender Representation in Governance
Nigeria’s foremost women leadership organizations have renewed their call for transformative labour reforms and gender inclusive leadership following a high-level engagement with the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Representatives from the Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) presented their unified agenda, which focuses on modern parental leave standards, strengthened workplace protections, and increased women’s participation in public and private sector leadership.
Barr. Onyejeocha welcomed the delegation, describing their advocacy as essential to building a more resilient national workforce. She stated, “Gender inclusive leadership is not just about fairness; it is a strategic imperative. No nation can expect to achieve sustainable socio economic development, global competitiveness, or institutional resilience if half of its population is under represented in the rooms where critical decisions are made.”
The coalition highlighted the need for a national minimum of 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave and 14 days paid paternity leave applicable to governments and large employers. They warned that the current 12 week, half pay policy forces many women out of the workforce. “Nigeria loses the ROI on the education of girls and women as more women are forced out of the labour force due to inadequate leave and care infrastructure,” the coalition noted.
Responding, the Honourable Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to reform. “Our ongoing review of labour laws will address gaps that limit women’s participation,” she said. She added that the ministry is strengthening the labour inspectorate system to enforce equal pay, maternity protection, and safe workplaces.
The coalition also drew attention to Nigeria’s undervalued care economy. They estimated that women contribute 114 billion dollars in unpaid care work, a burden that limits economic participation. They advocated for childcare subsidies, professionalization of childcare services, and stronger protections against pregnancy discrimination.
Hauwa Haliru, Director of Gender Affairs at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, reinforced the call for extended parental leave. She said, “In the NGF, what we are advocating for is 6 months paid maternity leave and we are equally using the Spouses’ Forum to advocate for the 6 months paternity leave.” She noted that nine states have already adopted the six months leave policy, with a target of reaching twenty states by 2027.
On governance, the Minister reiterated the federal push for at least 35 percent female representation across all levels of government. She said, “A governance structure that reflects at least 35 percent female representation is not only fair but necessary for balanced and empathetic leadership.”
The coalition appealed for strong media partnership to promote women’s visibility through stories, interviews, and policy coverage. They emphasized that amplifying the contributions of women accelerates public understanding and strengthens Nigeria’s commitment to gender balanced leadership.
Barr. Onyejeocha concluded with a pledge of collaboration. “Together, we can build workplaces, boardrooms, and institutions that reflect the true strength of our nation, our people,” she said.
