Women’s Economic Empowerment, Labour Force Participation and Prosperity Rights

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the extent of women’s involvement in economic empowerment, labour force participation and property rights, using Cross River State of Nigeria as a case study. The objective is to   x-ray the ratio between women and men in socio-economic and political empowerment, their participation in labour force and property rights. The problems is anchored on women’s discrimination and unequal access to economic resources and decision making. This is to justify the views that women are disproportionately placed in all strata of society. The study adopted Relative Deprivation Theory pioneered by Garry Ruciman (1966) and sustained by (Gurr 1970), Adopted qualitative research method such as in-depth interview and observation, used secondary sources of information and simple percentage for data analyzes. Information was gathered from five ministries of the State Civil/Public service. Data were also obtained  from Cross River State Bureau of Statistics, Independent National Electoral Commission, Calabar. Interviews were conducted on stakeholders for in-depth studies.  The results revealed that total number of women employees in the five Ministries (Tertiary Institution- CRUTECH, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Ministry of Economic Empowerment and the Judiciary) were 37.7 percent while men have 62.3 percent. In the political sphere from 1999 till date, results showed that women elected into National Assembly were 6.4 percent or less while men had 94 percent. Out of the 990 seats in the State houses of Assembly across Nigeria in 2023 election, 48 females about 4.8 percent were selected while men have 95.2 percent. In Cross River State House of Assembly with 25 members, only 2 females’ 8 percent were elected while men have 92 percent. On women’s property rights, a study from three ethnic groups (Igbo,Yoruba and Ibibio)  revealed that, in Igbo  and Ibibio societies, a woman cannot inherit immovable property like land from her community/family but can acquire her own land outside the communal/family land.. The Yoruba customary law permits female and male children to have equal right to inherit their parents’ real property. The property of a father who dies intestate can be divided according to the number of wives equally, using the Idi-Igi method. Recommendation: Women economic empowerment should be holistic (socially, economically, religiously and politically) devoid of societal influence, traditional norms and customs. The adoption, ratification and signing of international and regional conventions/treaties and constitutional provision should be upheld and enforced to promote women’s rights