Monday, 21 May 2012
Sexist Employment Policy At The University Of Ibadan
By Leo Igwe
I am writing to draw the attention of the general public, gender and human rights activists to an employment policy at the University of Ibadan which discriminates against women.
Today, at Nigeria’s premier university, it is a matter of policy that women who are pregnant are not contracted or employed by the establishment. In other words, pregnancy is an impediment or a ground for denying or deferring the contract or employment of any woman by the university.
That means if a woman is pregnant and qualified for a job at the University of Ibadan, she waits till she delivers before her job is confirmed or she forgets about it. This policy is sexist and discriminatory. It is a policy informed by male chauvinism and patriarchy and has no place in the employment policies and standards in this 21st century.
At a time when institutions around the world are striving to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in all areas of human endeavour, and become gender friendly and sensitive, the University of Ibadan is still stuck in the past and operates this sexist employment policy.
I therefore call upon the authorities at the University of Ibadan to abolish this discriminatory practice immediately
Leo Igwe
Ibadan, Oyo State
Comments
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it is!
Submitted by EmmsGrey (not verified) on February 20, 2012 - 11:04.
It is sexist! I have a friend that works for the human resources department at one of those payroll outsourcing companies and he told me clearly that it is against human rights to do such a thing. It is very good you wrote an article on this and you brought the attention on this matter. If you know of cases were women were turn down because they were pregnant you should contact them and make a case against the university.
Critize d idea, not d person
Submitted by femi (not verified) on May 24, 2011 - 23:17.
In commenting, u dont critize d person behind d idea. U critize, just & only d idea. To any lenght u want. U shdnt av koled hm Mr 419.
Sexist Employment Policy At The University Of Ibadan
Submitted by Leo (not verified) on May 23, 2011 - 18:13.
This is not a policy of the departments/faculties but of the university establishment. Ask any teaching staff at the Department of Theatre Arts or the head of the department, and s/he will confirm to you that there is case like that before it.
@ Leo Igwe, This is a blatant
Submitted by AB (not verified) on May 18, 2011 - 09:18.
@ Leo Igwe, This is a blatant lie and should be disregarded by all readers. No such thing happens in U.I.
I work in UI and quite aware of departments/units/faculties where pregnant women were appointed based on performance.
Pls stop deceiving Nigerians Mr Igwe.
If you were to consider this
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on May 17, 2011 - 13:22.
If you were to consider this from a business perspective and work out the productivity of the woman, then the organization might just be interested in delaying till she delivers.
Like Mr former UI employee said, it might even work in the best interest of the woman. We really do not know how far she is gone in pregnancy but Nigerian maternity laws are quite generous when compared with some other countries.
ignoramus response Preventing development in Nigeria
Submitted by Pearl (not verified) on May 10, 2011 - 06:17.
Mr former UI worker pregnancy is not an illness and no woman should be discriminated against on the basis of that. it does not reduce her ability to work neither does it make her sucseptible to infection. She is doin a service and shouldn't be discouraged. If she was unable to work she wouldn't seek work most importantly, pregnancy is a reality associated with women it is not new or strange so the institution should accomodate it. It is not a pleasure trip but a service to society to prevent ostrasicm from the likes of you so it is discriminatory to refuse a pregnant woman employment and it must end. UI is a government institution and owes responsibility to the people so it cannot operate such inhuman pollicy wen u own ur business u can di dat but not a public institution. Thank you Leo for pointing it out.
This is a stupid and
Submitted by Akintunde Ijimere (not verified) on May 10, 2011 - 04:34.
This is a stupid and dishonest letter, Mr "Human Rights Fighter". If the pregnant woman was 'employed', she would have immediately proceeded on 'maternity leave', which is a very generous employment benefit in Nigeria that is not available as a leave category in the U.S., the most vocal promoter of Human Rights. Mr. 419 Igwe is advocating for someone to be employed whose health may not allow them to perform any duty. This is just laughable. I used to work at U.I., and will never let my pregnant wife work in the department I used to work in, because of the possible health risks. Did Mr. Human Rights Fighter ever consider that U.I. may have been trying to safe the pregnant woman from her ignorant self? copy-cat fighters!
