ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The challenge of women’s participation in the political process in Nigeria gained significant attention, following the country’s return to democracy in 1999. With the transfer of power from the military regime to a civilian democratic administration, one would have thought that women would also be represented equally based on the Beijing Declaration. It is obvious that the perception that democracy would automatically boost women’s political involvement has not been validated after over twenty three years of Nigeria’s return to civilian rule. This study therefore assesses women in politics and power in Nigeria using Lagos State as a case study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design, while a random sampling method was applied at choosing the sample. The study made use of a sample of 290 participants from Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto/Ijaniki, Lagos State annual conference. Self-structure survey questionnaire was used to obtain the opinion of the respondents on subject matter. The reliability of the instrument was subjected to analysis using Cronbach alpha to determine the coefficient of 0.863. The instrument was validated using face content validation. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using inferential statistics, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistical tools. The study found that, there is significant influence of Socio-economic development on women’s political participation in Lagos State; there is significance contribution of culture to low women’s political participation and ascendancy to power in Lagos State; there is significance relationship between Nigerian political structures and women’s participation in politics and ascendancy to power in Lagos State and finally, there is no significant improvement in women representation in Lagos State’s House of Assembly and local government councils since the beginning of the 4th Republic. The study concluded that, suffice to say that the issue of women participation in politics has been a subject of controversy throughout the world’s political history. Politically, women have been relegated to the background, despite the tremendous effort put forward by government and non- governmental organizations. The study therefore recommended that there is a need to ensure active participation of women in politics, civil society organisations, governments as well as political parties should increase the level of awareness of women by organizing seminars/workshops not only in the cities but also in the villages.  The researcher equally recommended that there is a need to create an enabling environment that  will allow  women  to  engage  meaningfully  in the decision  making process in a sustainable  and  effective  way  that  is  free  from  violence  and  harassment  of any kind.