Women’s organisations in the state, including the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), FIDA, and the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, among others, have embarked on advocacy visits to push for the passage of a Special Women’s Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking during the advocacy visit to the liaison offices of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, and the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, the Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Dr. Blessing Nwagba, said the nationwide advocacy to members of the National Assembly is aimed at securing their support to ensure the bill attains the required two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for its passage.
She explained that the passage of the Special Women’s Bill would promote inclusiveness and aligns with international protocols such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Dr. Nwagba revealed that similar advocacy efforts had been carried out at national and zonal levels, adding that the visit to present letters at the constituency level is to ensure broad endorsement by the National Assembly when it resumes sitting.
Also speaking, Mrs. Joy Nwagbara of Women in Politics, Miss Solomon Nmesoma Favour, and Mrs. Ifeoma Ohaeri, among other members of the NCWS and young women in politics, noted that the passage of the bill has become necessary. They emphasized that the importance of women’s participation in lawmaking cannot be overemphasized.
In her remarks, the Team Lead of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Judith Umeadi, called on federal lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the bill ahead of the forthcoming elections. She stressed that the country stands to benefit greatly from increased female participation if the Special Women’s Bill is given priority attention.
