Economy
Weak Gender Law Enforcement Limiting Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Says World Bank
Weak Gender Law Enforcement Limiting Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Says World Bank
Weak gender law enforcement limiting Nigeria’s economic growth, says World Bank. The World Bank says Nigeria’s weak enforcement of gender equality laws and lack of parenthood support policies are constraining women’s participation in the workforce and limiting the country’s economic growth.
In its Women, Business and the Law 2026 report on Wednesday, the bank said Nigeria scores 50 out of 100 on gender equality laws but just 21.7 out of 100 on the systems required to implement them, including funding, services and institutional support.
The report also gave Nigeria a 0 out of 100 score on parenthood policies, citing the absence of federally mandated paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks, paid paternity leave, and protections against dismissal of pregnant workers.
The World Bank warned that gaps between legislation and enforcement are creating “huge opportunity gaps” that undermine productivity in developing economies.
Indermit Gill, chief economist and senior vice-president for development economics at the World Bank Group, said there is a wide gap between laws on paper and their real-world application.
“On paper, most countries are doing reasonably well: the average country scores 67 out of 100 on the adequacy of laws to enable economic equality between women and men,” Gill said.
“But when it comes to enforcing the laws, the average score drops to 53. And when the systems needed to implement those rights are assessed, the adequacy score is just 47. These numbers reflect huge opportunity gaps.”
The report noted that globally, only 4 percent of women live in economies with near-full legal equality.
In Nigeria, the Bretton Woods institution said the absence of structured childcare systems, paid parental leave, and enforceable equal pay provisions weakens female labour force retention and limits the country’s ability to harness its demographic potential.
“The country currently lacks federal laws mandating at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, or explicit prohibitions against the dismissal of pregnant workers. Across all Nigerian states, there are virtually no explicit provisions ensuring access to affordable and quality childcare,” the report reads.
“Less than half of the 190 economies globally provide financial support for families, and Nigeria lacks the critical tax support or government-administered mechanisms to keep mothers in the workforce.”
It also noted that across Nigerian states, there are virtually no explicit provisions guaranteeing access to affordable and quality childcare.
The report added that Nigeria lacks tax incentives or government-administered financial support systems aimed at helping families balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
WORLD BANK SAYS LABOUR RESTRICTIONS, PAY GAP PERSIST
The report said sections 55, 56 and 57 of the Nigerian Labour Act still restrict women from working in certain industrial jobs or at night.
“The lack of legal mandates for equal remuneration for work of equal value contributes to a global reality highlighted in the report: women earn, on average, just 77 cents for every dollar paid to men,” the report added.
On safety, the report said although Nigeria passed the violence against persons (Prohibition) Act, supportive frameworks remain underfunded.
“Globally, enforcement of safety laws fails 80% of the time, leaving women disproportionately vulnerable and less able to work consistently,” World Bank said.
The report also noted disparities across Nigerian states.
“States like Lagos and Oyo lead the country in legal gender equality, with Lagos operating specialized family courts and comprehensive services for survivors of gender-based violence,” it said.
“Conversely, states like Bauchi and Kano operating heavily under varying customary or religious laws show urgent gaps, with some northern states scoring as low as 25.0 out of 100 on legal frameworks limiting women’s marital and inheritance rights.”
Speaking on the performance, Shirley Ewang, advocacy lead at Gatefield, said Nigeria’s legal progress is being undermined by weak institutional backing.
World Bank
“The data is clear: our legal progress is being severely undermined by a lack of institutional backing, reflected in our 0 out of 100 score on the Parenthood indicator,” she said.
Ewang called for concrete reforms, including a minimum fully paid 16-week maternity leave, 14-day paid paternity leave, and investment in childcare infrastructure.
“Until these support systems are in place, empowering Nigerian women remains an illusion, and economic growth will be constrained,” she added.
Tea Trumbic, manager of the Women, Business and the Law project, warned of demographic urgency, noting that 1.2 billion young people, half of them girls, will enter the global workforce over the next decade.
The World Bank said closing Nigeria’s supportive framework gap is critical to unlocking women’s economic participation and avoiding long-term growth constraints.
ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai On A Nine-Count Charge, Separates Trial From Co-Defendant
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, before Honourable Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court 5 on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering.
The arraignment, which took place on Monday, followed the amendment of the original charge by the Commission’s prosecution counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, who separated the joint charge earlier filed against Mallam El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Amadu Sule.
The amendment became necessary due to the continued absence of the second defendant, Amadu Sule, who was reported to be unavailable in court on account of a medical condition.
Following the development, the court granted the application for amendment, allowing the prosecution to proceed with the arraignment of Mallam El-Rufai independent of the second defendant.
Mallam El-Rufai was subsequently arraigned on nine amended charges which allege various infractions under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, and Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2017.
Upon the reading of the charges, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.
Counsel to the prosecution thereafter urged the court to fix a date for trial and to make appropriate orders to ensure the defendant’s attendance throughout the proceedings.
The defence counsel, in response, informed the court of a pending application and prayed for bail on liberal terms.
El-Rufai
After listening to both parties, the court adjourned for ruling on the bail application to Tuesday, 14th of April, 2026, and further ruled that Mallam El-Rufai should remain in the custody of the ICPC.
J. Okor Odey
Head, Media & Public Communications, ICPC.
NUJ Southwest Commends Ola Olukoyede For Result-Driven Fight Against Corruption
NUJ southwest commends Ola Olukoyede. The Southwest leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has commended the pragmatic efforts and approach of the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede in tackling economic and financial crimes in public offices and cybercrime among Nigerian youths.
The Commendation was given in Ibadan, Oyo State when the NUJ delegation led by its Vice President, Comrade Aderonke Samo, represented by the Ondo State Chairman of the body, Prince Leke Adegbite paid a familiarization visit to the Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim.
“This visit basically is to commend you, for the excellent works you have been doing regarding the fight against corruption, mismanagement of public funds in public service and cybercrimes among our youths in Oyo State and Southwest in general since you have been appointed as the Director in Ibadan Directorate.
“Sincerely, we thank the Executive Chairman of the EFCC for putting a round peg in a round hole because this has led to efficiency and remarkable success so far in the fight against economic and financial crimes in Oyo State and Southwest at large”, he said.
He assured Ringim of the continued support and synergy from the NUJ Southwest, adding that members of the public must be further encouraged to embrace the whistleblower policy of the Commission towards effective and result driven fight against corruption.
Ola Olukoyede
Responding, Ringim acknowledged the unceasing and unequivocal support from the NUJ, stressing that the NUJ stands out as one of the most critical partners in the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. “EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede recognizes the pivotal roles played so far by Nigerian journalists in the fight and will always appreciate their efforts for their just and unbiased reports of events and activities of the Commission”, she said.
While assuring the delegation of the EFCC’s partnership and adequate information sharing towards a better informed society, she called for a total press freedom and objective reporting of diverse issues that can move the nation forward.l
EFCC Warns Banks Against Unsecured Loans
EFCC warns banks against unsecured loans. The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned Nigerian banks against granting loans without credible collateral, warning that such practices often lead to insider abuse and non-performing loans.
Olukoyede issued the warning recently when he received the Chief Audit Executive of First Bank Plc, Mufutau Olawale Abiola, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Commission in Ikoyi.
Speaking through the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Bawa Usman Kaltungo, Olukoyede expressed grave concerns over how banks in the country grant loans, noting that loans backed only by personal guarantees, including those of top executives, are inadequate and put depositors’ funds at risk. He said: “We have issues with banks’ mode of giving loans. The process often shows insider abuse.”
While emphasizing that banks should desist from issuing loans without visible or credible collateral, he added that “Top-down loans are not secured. You cannot give a loan based solely on the personal guarantee of the Chief Executive. This is not security. Banks must not issue loans without verifiable collateral. If there is proper collateral for loans obtained by bank customers, this will reduce the rate of non-performing loans.”
He further warned that a bank is only a custodian, and that giving loans without adequate collateral “amounts to tampering with depositors’ funds.” He also urged banks to implement measures, including thorough due diligence on its customers, to prevent loan defaults.
According to him, “ Even in situations where you outsource due diligence, there must be a clause of liability,” he said.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to continued cooperation with the bank in tackling financial crimes, he urged the bank to release its staff promptly when invited during investigations of alleged financial crimes.
“When we invite your staff, especially where insider connivance is suspected, you must release them so we can jointly fight economic and financial crimes. We must work together to stay ahead of criminals. Let me add that where money is, that is where people’s hearts are. Most of the time, we escalate issues to foreign security agencies as may be necessary,” he added.
EFCC
Earlier, Abiola expressed gratitude to the EFCC leadership for the engagement, noting that the visit was intended to strengthen the existing collaboration between the bank and the Commission.
While urging the EFCC to expedite investigations into cases involving its staff and others, Abiola also disclosed that a designated team in his bank handles requests from the EFCC.
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