Nigerian government upturn lawmakers rejection of women bills on gender policy
Barely 24 hours after members of the National Assembly rejected bill for National Gender Policy to promote gender equality, good governance and accountability across the three tiers of government in the country, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a revised of the bill.
Penpushing reports that, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, made this known on Wednesday while addressing the State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, presided over by Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja.
The Minister explained that, the policy represents a set of minimum standards expected of Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability and being socially responsive to the needs of its vulnerable group
“Today, the Ministry of Women Affairs presented a memo on the National Gender Policy to the Federal Executive Council. This memo is a revised National Gender Policy 2021 – 2026, Tallen said.
“It represents a set of minimum standards expected of Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability and being socially responsive to the needs of its vulnerable group’, she added.
“Equity remains the foundation of the core principles of agenda 2030 which says ‘Leave no one behind. I want to put on record that Mr President has done so much to support women through numerous pro-woman projects’.
“This memo today that has been approved by council has gone again to clearly state the fact that Mr President is committed to make a difference as far as women issues are concerned’, the Minister stated.
“This has also come at the right time. I’m sure you’re all aware that the whole month of March is set aside by the international community to United Nations to celebrate activities that concern women and women’s contribution towards national development’’,Tallen added
Penpushing also reports that, it is recalled that the National Assembly failed to pass about five bills aimed at promoting more opportunities for women in politics, governance and in the society at large, while voting on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution
The Minister threatened to mobilise Nigerian women to strategise during the 2023 election and urged Nigerians to pray for the members of Parliament, describing their action as show of shame, expressing optimism that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
“But I am not generalising, not all the men in the National Assembly. We have the figures, 72 men in the House of representative voted in support of the bill. So, I’m not generalising. We are saying that, for those that don’t believe in it, we will continue to intensify advocacy for them to believe in gender equality, and the role that women can play when they are on the decision table to make Nigeria better.
“I want to assure you, that all hope is not lost. I have reassured Nigerian women that we should not be daunted, we should remain resilient. And we have already put in place strategies.“Last night we all met the key civil society organisations and other women activists.
“We are strategising with the female members in both Houses of National Assembly. And I want to assure you, that Nigeria women will not give up, we’ll keep pushing until we achieve the affirmative action.’’
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