Authorities in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State are currently working on a legal framework that would prohibit women and teenage girls from engaging in farming activities.
According to the council chairman, Babangida Maliya, the move is rooted in cultural values and the need to safeguard the safety and dignity of women in the region.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Maliya expressed deep concern over the increasing trend of women spending long hours on farmlands, sometimes staying late into the night. He described this as both a security risk and a violation of the cultural norms of the Hausa-Fulani people.
“Neither Islam nor the traditions of our Hausa-Fulani heritage support the idea of women and young girls toiling in the fields,” Maliya asserted.
“This proposed measure is aimed at restoring cultural order while protecting our mothers and daughters from potential dangers.”
He further explained that the council, in collaboration with legal professionals, councillors, and traditional institutions, is in the process of drafting a well-structured and enforceable legal policy to back the restriction. The council’s objective, he said, is to offer better life prospects for women and girls, especially in rural areas.
As part of the broader strategy, Maliya called on Fulani community leaders to take proactive steps in encouraging school enrollment among children, particularly girls. He also emphasized the need to introduce adult literacy programmes for women, especially mothers, to provide them with alternatives to farming as a means of livelihood.
Reacting to the proposed law, a prominent woman leader in the area, Hajiya Inno Mohammed, voiced her support. She described the initiative as timely and commendable, noting that it has the potential to uplift the dignity of women and promote education within the community.
“I will work with other women to support the council’s effort. It is a positive development that can transform the lives of our womenfolk,” she stated.
The proposed policy continues to generate discussion among stakeholders in the region as consultations proceed toward its formal implementation.