By Nnamdi Ojiego

The Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group has called for women’s economic inclusion in the extractive sector, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

The advocacy group made this call in communique issued at the end of Women in Extractive Campaign Gender Justice Roundtable on the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 3% Host Communities Development Trust Fund, HCDTF, held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, recently.

The PIA allocates 3% of oil companies’ operating expenditures to host communities. However, concerns persist over transparency, accountability, and slow implementation.

The event, chaired by the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Odidem Bassy Etim Edet, was aimed to advocate for gender inclusion, ensuring transparent resource allocation and discussing strategies for overcoming barriers to women’s participation in the PIA’s 3% HCDTF and opening opportunities for women in the extractive industry.

The roundtable which brought together traditional leaders, experts, and advocates, noted that women in host communities face severe challenges, including environmental degradation, limited access to essential services, and exclusion from decision-making processes.

The participants argued that women deserve equal access to benefits under the PIA and gender inclusion is critical for sustainable development.

The communique endorsed by HRM Odidem Bassy Etim Edet; HRH King J. D. Nkpe, Paramount Ruler of Alesa; HRH George-Hill Anthony, the CEO of Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group, NDEBUMOG; Barr. Joy Idorerejim Uwaumoh; Blessing Nkereuwen Edit, Udung Uko and Edidiong Wilson Ekanem, Acting Team Leader, Nsit Ubium Shadow Budget Group, underscored the importance of evolving global movement for women’s participation in natural resources governance and transparency.

It added that withholding of royalties, due to these communities is exacerbating poverty and inequality and stressed the necessity to amplify women’s voices and advocate for legislative amendment that will allocate some percentage from the 3% operating expenditures of oil companies to women in extractive host communities.

“There’s the need to challenge and eliminate cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality. Women in host communities deserve equal access of benefits under the PIA and gender inclusion, which is critical for sustainable host communities’ development.”

The communique however, recommended establishing clear guidelines, promoting participatory decision-making, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation of HCDTs, increased transparency, capacity building, inclusive decision making process, clear accountability mechanism, community women led advocacy, strategic partnership, regular monitoring and evaluation, legislative advocacy for gender inclusion, and rejigging the HCDTs.

The roundtable concluded with a renewed vigor and commitment to campaign against cultural impediments that frustrate progress of women, alongside, hindrances against women benefiting directly from natural resource opportunities.