Protesters demand gender equality in Nigeria

Azeezat Olaoluwa

Women’s affairs reporter, BBC News, Lagos

Scores of women have protested outside Nigeria’s parliament in the capital, Abuja, against lawmakers' rejection of several bills seeking gender equality.

Chanting songs and raising their fists, members of women's rights groups marched to the National Assembly to demand that all rejected gender bills be reconsidered.

Wearing pink shirts with their demands printed on them, the women blocked the entrance of the parliament building and vowed not to leave until the leadership of the National Assembly addressed them.

One of the protesters, Niri Goyit of Action Aid, said women deserved to have equal standing with men in society and so should not be left behind in politics.

Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday rejected a proposed bill that would see special additional seats created for women in national and state parliaments.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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