Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA) Nigeria has tasked Government and Civil Societies to ensure that the 2024 budget for Kogi State is Gender Responsive.
The Program Manager of FIDA Nigeria Fikih Obaro gave the charge on Wednesday at a two day capacity building workshop for civil society organizations/State actors on gender responsive budget held in Lokoja.
He explained that a true gender sensitive and inclusive budget should seek to address the marginalization of target group by focusing both on increasing income and improving access to resources and service.
He stated that the design of gender responsive budgeting hinges on the general principle of bringing together two sources of information which have been kept separate” knowledge of gender inequality and knowledge of public finance and public sector programs.
Obaro identified tax measures such as tax advantage saving plans and direct expenditures such as welfare, childcare, special job creation as two major levers Government can pull in gender budgeting, stressing that, both should be analyzed through a gender lens.
“By applying a gender lens to budget, Government can understand the different needs of their constituents and plan, execute and monitor expenditures and revenue more effectively”he added.
While establishing the fact that Kogi State is the seventh State where the Campaign for Gender Responsive Budget is been championed by the organization, Obaro reemphasized that Civil Societies in the Country should continue to hold Government accountable.
According to him, gender responsive budget ensures that the needs and interest of individuals from different social group are address in expenditure and revenue policies.
He added that Gender Responsive Budget helps Government understand how they may need to adjust their priority and reallocate resources to live up to their commitments to achieving gender equality and advancing Women’s right.
Obaro explained further that,”Gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation. Women, Men, girls and boys often have very difficult practical and strategic needs and priority. Women remains under represented in public life, which means that Government policy, including economic policy may not take their needs and priority into account”
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Vice President/National President of FIDA Amina Agbaje noted that
the skills acquired is to enable participants demand accountability for gender-related expenditure monitor release, utilization of the budget and advocate for the incorporation of gender perspectives at various stages of budget planning, policy, and program formulation”.
The capacity building workshop according to Agbaje is geared towards enhancing its understanding as a tool for promoting gender equity, accountability to women’s rights as well as efficiency and transparency in budget policies and processes”.
Agbaje, who was represented by the Kogi State Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria stated that the workshop is organized with the intention to enhance the capacity of civil society organisations and agencies in applying gender budget analysis tools in their programming around gender equality and women’s rights
She added that the training will further assist participants in supporting gender budget initiatives and seek clarification and understanding of the conceptual, technical, and political elements of gender responsive budgeting.
“Women are more likely than men to have social responsibility for unpaid work such as childcare, care for older or disabled people, domestic work, and unpaid Subsistence work.
“This is due to the fact that shouldering these gendered responsibilities reduces women’s ability to do paid work, public services like early childhood education can reduce unpaid work and have a major effect on women’s opportunities and employment”.
“Funding for specialist services for women who have experienced violence is therefore vital to promoting gender equality through the instrumentality of a budget”Agbaje stated.
It was gathered that, the two day workshop for the Civil society and state actors is geared towards equiping them with basic knowledge and understanding on gender responsive budgeting.