By Gbenga Akingbule
Members of the National Assembly were urged on Tuesday in Abuja to urgently initiate the process of repealing a section of the Penal Code Law that allegedly permits husbands to beat their wives as a means of enforcing discipline.
Gatekeepers News reports that Nothern Senators and their counterparts at the House of Representatives were specifically called upon to champion the abolishment of Section 55(1)(d) of the Penal Code Law in Nigeria described as extremly discriminatory , promotes domestic violence against women and Contradicts human rights in northern parts of the country.
This was disclosed by Barrister Aisha Tijjani, one of the facilitators at the three -day workshop on strengthening the capacity of women in public office and male allies in Borno State to advocate for and deliver gender sensitive planing and gender responsive budgeting at Local Government Level.
Barrister Aisha Tijjani, a member of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Kano State chapter stated at the workshop organized by the German Cooperation GIZ and co-funded by the EU that many women have fallen victim to the Penal Code law, with their husbands taking advantage of it to inflict injuries while beating them that in some cases led to death
“Even when a woman does something wrong, and the husband is very angry and tries to correct her by hitting her , there’s no limit to provide care and safety for the woman and at the end of the day, the essence of marriage is defeated.
“The National Assembly needs to act fast to ensure that Section 55(1)(d) of the Penal Code Law is repealed and replaced through an amendment that will respect the rights of women and not subject them to domestic violence by their husbands ” Barrister Aisha said.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the media, civil society organizations, and women in public office, among others.
This development comes amid growing concerns about domestic violence and the need for stronger laws to protect women’s rights in Nigeria.
The Penal Code Law, enacted in 1960, contains provisions that are considered outdated and incompatible with modern human rights standards.
Repealing the law according to some stakeholders at the workshop would be a significant step towards promoting gender equality and protecting women from violence.
