Gender and Local Government Policy Implementation in Taraba State: A Study of Jalingo Local Government Area

This study explores the extent to which gender considerations are integrated into local government policy implementation in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State, North East Nigeria. While Nigeria has ratified several international gender equality commitments including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, gender-responsive governance at the local government level remains largely aspirational rather than operational, particularly in states like Taraba where cultural norms constrain women's participation in public affairs. The study adopts a descriptive research design with primary data collected through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions involving 180 respondents including female community leaders, local government gender desk officers, NGO representatives, and male community elders. The Gender Mainstreaming Framework and the Feminist Institutionalism Theory underpin the analysis. Secondary data is sourced from Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs, UN Women Nigeria reports, and recent academic publications on gender and governance in Northern Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are employed. Findings are expected to reveal significant gaps between gender policy adoption and actual implementation, particularly in budgeting, hiring, and service planning. Recommendations include mandatory gender impact assessments for local government projects, training of policy officers in gender-responsive planning, and affirmative representation in local government committees. Keywords: Gender policy, local government, Jalingo, Taraba State, gender mainstreaming.