Women’s organisations in Abia state including the National Council for Women Society, FIDA, the League of Women Voters in Nigeria among others, have commenced advocacy visits for the passage of a special bill for women which is currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking when they visited the liaison office of the Deputy Speaker House of representatives, the Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu and member representing Ikwuano Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, the chairperson League of Women voters of Nigeria, Dr Blessing Nwagba, said the nationwide advocacy to the national Assembly members was to seek for their support to ensure that the Bill secures the third majority at the National Assembly.
According to her, the passage of the bill will ensure inclusiveness, adding that it is in line with the international protocol on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the Moputo protocol which nigeria is a signatory to.
Dr Nwagba pointed out that the same advocacy has been done at the national and zonal levels, noting that the visit is to present them letters at the Constituency levels was to ensure that the Bill secures general endorsement by the National Assembly when they resume sitting.
In their contributions, Mrs Joy Nwagbara from Women in Politics, Miss Solomon Nmesoma Favour, and Mrs Ifeoma Ohaeri among other NCWO and young women in politics stressed that the passage of the special bill has become necessary as the importance of women’s participation in lawmaking cannot be overemphasized.
In her speech, the team lead of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Umeadi Judith, opined that the passage of the bill should be fast-tracked by the federal lawmakers before the forthcoming elections, pointing out that the country has a lot to benefit from women if the special bill for women is giving priority attention.
