GENDER EQUALITY AND THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN IN POLITICAL OFFICES IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Women in Nigeria today are facing challenges in holding elective and appointive positions. Democracy involves a commitment to avail both men and women equal opportunity to develop their individual capacities. This paper examined gender inequality in political offices in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999. The sources of data for the study are mainly secondary and the feminist perspective is used as our framework of analysis. Findings revealed that the under representation of women in both elective and appointive positions is as a result of political, socioeconomic and psychological factors. The paper therefore recommended that there should be general progress in the design of political and electoral systems and the level of institutionalization of, and transparency in political decision making in Nigeria.