to act as a watchdog to ensure that the ICPC and the EFCC do not act ultra vires the constitution, as has been alleged by some observers. (Government, ICPC and EFCC) • The immunity clause which provides for immunity for the president, vice president, and governors and their deputy governors be amended or expunged. (National Assembly and government) • Nigeria domesticate and implement the conventions of the UN and AU regarding anticorruption and the prevention and combating of corruption. The two conventions provide a solid framework in the areas of prevention, criminalisation, international cooperation, assets recovery, etc. (Government, National Assembly, ICPC and EFCC) • All public officials and office holders be encouraged to follow the example of the president in declaring and publishing his assets and abiding by the rule of law. (Public officials and office holders) • Programmes in civic education be undertaken which emphasise the values of integrity, honesty, discipline, punctuality, diligence, timekeeping, etc. (Public officials and office holders) OBJECTIVE 7: PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN i. Summary of the CSAR 323. Nigeria is a signatory to key international instruments that protect women’s rights, such as CEDAW and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The 1999 constitution contains nondiscrimination provisions, and Nigeria has a National Gender Policy that seeks to promote gender equity. The NEEDS document also stresses the commitment to gender equity and expresses government’s commitment to 30 per cent representation for women “where possible”. 324. Women make up 49.6 per cent of the nation’s total population, but their level of participation in governance and decision making is below 5 per cent. They are responsible for the reproduction of the labour force and for producing over 70 per cent of the nation’s food supply. The demographic strength of women exceeds their proportion of the entire population. In 1992, they accounted for 27 million out of the 47 million registered, eligible voters. 325. The factors which have militated against increased political participation of women include the ideology of patriarchy, male chauvinism, the dominance of money in politics, and the masculine orientation of politics where violence is a principal instrument in the process of acquisition of power. In addition, women aspirants are labelled ‘cultural deviants’ in order to undermine their moral standing. 326. The limited success in promoting women’s political participation – measured by the number of women elected or appointed to executive positions since 1999 – shows the serious gaps in representation of women in decision-making positions in Nigeria. 117