Mining: Kogi Assembly Vows to End Gender-based Violence, Child Labour 

The Kogi State Assembly has vowed to end all forms of gender-based violence and child labour in mining industries across the State.

Mrs Comfort Egwaba, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, made the pledge during the inauguration of the committee at the Assembly chambers in Lokoja, the State capital.

Egwaba described as “callous” and “unacceptable” a situation where citizens, especially children, were being subjected to undue violence and labour at mining sites.

She said her committee became aware of the ‘crime’ through the President of Women Miners Association, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, during their research validation and policy dialogue.

She urged the State’s Women Affairs Ministry to urgently furnish her committee with briefs on such matters in the course of its oversight functions.

“In the light of this development, we hereby warn miners, who are fond of such inhuman acts to desist or face the wrath of the law.

“The Governor Yahaya Bello-led government is out to ensure that the rights of citizens are well protected and that they enjoy the dividends of democracy and not subjected to pains and sorrow,” she said.

Egwaba extolled Governor Bello for engaging more women in government and enjoined the women to complement the governor’s effort with results-oriented services.

The legislator also urged women to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to achieve its desired goals for women, people with disabilities (PWDs) and the entire people of the State.

The House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation also has Asema Haruna (Adavi constitutiency) as vice-chairman.

Other members of the committee are Mr Aliyu Maikudi, Mr Omotayo Ishaya, Mr Sunday Daku and Mr Usman Adejoh.

Also in the committee are Mr Orokiti Zakariya, Mr Akus Lawal, Mr Abu Jibril and Yahaya Barakat, who is the committee’s clerk.

NAN