Constitution Amendment: Women Groups urge Lawmakers to reintroduce rejected bills

Nigerian women have urged the National Assembly to reintroduce and passed all the four women related bills rejected in the constitution amendment process.

The various Women groups who stormed the National Assembly to protest the lawmakers’ decision to vote against the bills demanded that the National Assembly takes another look at the requests for 111 special seats for women.

They also demanded that 35% representation of women in party leadership and twenty percent for women ministerial and commissioner slots be reintroduced for passage.

Speaking on behalf of the groups the Country Director Action Aid, Ene Obi said the protest was to demand actions from the National Assembly to bridge the huge gender imbalance in both elective and appointive positions in the country.

Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Nkeiruka Onyeajocha who is the sponsor of the bill seeking special seats for women in the Parliament admonished them to remain calm and focused.

The women are calling on relevant authorities to look into the wide gender gap in the country as well as address the country’s ranking on the word gender equality chart.

PIAK