The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has known as for decisive motion to finish little one labour, sexual harassment, gender inequality, pressured marriage, and different types of discrimination in opposition to women and girls in Nigeria.
He gave the cost in Abuja on Thursday throughout an interactive session with schoolgirls held to mark the Worldwide Day of the Woman Baby, themed “The lady I’m, the change I lead: Women on the frontlines of disaster.”
The occasion, tagged “Women’ Chat with the Speaker,” was organised by the Workplace of the Speaker in collaboration with the Home Committee on Girls Affairs and Social Growth.
Amongst these current had been the Speaker’s spouse, Fatima Abbas-Tajudeen; Chairperson of the Home Committee on Girls Affairs and Social Growth, Kafilat Ogbara (APC, Lagos) and senior aides to the Speaker.
Mr Tajudeen, who has constantly supported gender-focused advocacy, reaffirmed the Home’s dedication to advancing laws that safeguards the rights and welfare of girls and ladies.
“My main concern is lady and little one labour which continues to be endemic on this nation. Lots of ladies, as a substitute of going to highschool, are being despatched to work in the home of the wealthy and people who are doing nicely. That is an space the place the Nationwide Meeting, the federal government should pay additional consideration,” Mr Tajudeen mentioned.
The speaker famous that whereas public enlightenment campaigns have diminished circumstances of kid marriage, the issue of kid labour continues to undermine training and social improvement.
He known as on each the legislature and the manager to accentuate efforts to get rid of the apply and defend weak kids.
He additionally praised the rising educational achievements of Nigerian ladies, describing them as “a promising sign” of progress made by means of previous advocacy and coverage interventions.
He mentioned, “I see outcomes from tertiary establishments; I see outcomes from even major faculties, the place nearly each college you go to, you can see out that the women are on the prime.”
Mr Tajudeen highlighted ongoing legislative efforts to enhance ladies’s illustration in governance, disclosing that the Home is at present contemplating a invoice to order seats for girls and Individuals Residing with Disabilities (PLWDs).
On sexual harassment in faculties, Mr Tajudeen, who’s a former instructor, condemned the abuse of feminine college students by lecturers and college authorities, warning that the Home won’t tolerate such.
He pledged the Home’s assist for nationwide campaigns to finish sexual exploitation of scholars and to strengthen enforcement of current legal guidelines on gender-based violence.
Through the interactive session, the ten schoolgirls chosen by means of an internet ballot carried out by the Speaker’s Workplace in partnership with advocacy group, Gender Cell Initiative, posed questions on points starting from sexual harassment and little one marriage to the enforcement of the Baby’s Rights Act and safety in faculties.
Govt Lead of Gender Cell Initiative, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, mentioned the women represented the voices of thousands and thousands of others throughout Nigeria who face day by day challenges associated to discrimination, insecurity, and lack of entry to training.
Speaker Tajudeen responded to every query, emphasising that whereas the manager arm is answerable for implementing legal guidelines, the Home will proceed to make laws that protects the rights and dignity of each Nigerian.
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He recommended the organisers and contributors, reaffirming the Nationwide Meeting’s dedication to selling gender fairness and guaranteeing that each Nigerian lady has the chance to thrive.
Earlier in Thursday’s plenary, Ms Ogbara moved a movement to commemorate the Worldwide Day of the Woman Baby, urging the federal authorities and related businesses to make the safety, training, and empowerment of ladies, particularly these in crisis-affected communities, a precedence.
She known as on safety businesses and stakeholders to undertake concrete measures to defend ladies from violence and exploitation throughout emergencies.
