IPC Endorses Women's Protest Over Rejection Of Gender Bills

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos has endorsed the protest by women across the country over the rejection of gender bills at the ongoing constitutional amendment in the National Assembly.

Lawmakers had last week Tuesday voted against a bill seeking to provide special seats for women in the national and state houses of assembly, just as a bill seeking to “provide reserve quota” for women on appointments was also rejected.

The Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade stated that it was unfortunate that the 9th National Assembly (NASS) would contravene the country’s international legal obligations by denying Nigeria women the opportunity of better inclusion and greater representation in governance by voting against the pro-gender bills.

He said that the rejection puts the country in bad light as it negates the campaign theme of this year's International Women’s Day, #BreakTheBias, with the sub-theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow."

According to him, "The proposed bills that were rejected would have addressed the current gender imbalance across the legislative arms of governments in the country, whilst reducing the under-representation of women in political office."

Citing the recent achievements of IPC in enhancing the participation of women in politics executed under Component 4b: Support to the media of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project, Arogundade said that twelve out of those that participated in the training currently hold legislative positions in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Ondo States.

He pleaded with the National Assembly to reconsider its decision and take proactive and affirmative action in providing more opportunities for women to participate in politics, governance, and all spheres of human endeavour.

These were contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Program Manager of IPC, Stella Nwofia.

Comments

11- month Unpaid Salaries: FG Returns EHCON To Budget Circle By 2025

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Stakeholders and Staff of EHCON in a group photograph at the unveiling of EHCON’s Electronic Documentation Management Center (EDMC) in Abuja on Wednesday. The Federal Government has stated that plans are underway to return the staff of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) to budgetary allocation by 2025 and facilitate the payment of 11-month unpaid salaries. Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the unveiling of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria's (EHCON) Electronic Documentation Management Center (EDMC). The centre, which is domiciled at the headquarters of EHCON in the Federal Secretariat, was built by EHCON in partnership with Agro - Climate Resilience in Semi Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) and financed by the World Bank. News Rider reports that the staff of EHCON received their last salary in December 2023, which implied that from January to November 2024, the workforce are y...

EHCON Seals Deal With SEPHON, EPHPAN, WAHEB To Revamp Environmental, Public Health

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba displaying a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Registrar of West African Health Examination Board (WAHEB) Mrs Bola Oladejo in Abuja on Tuesday. In line with global best practices, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has sealed deal with strategic professional bodies to revamp environmental and public health issues across the country. They are Society for Environmental and Public Health of Nigeria (SEPHON), Environmental and Public Health Practitioners of Nigeria (EPHPAN), and West African Health Examination Board (WAHEB). Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba stated this on Tuesday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the professional bodies in Abuja. He noted that Environmental Health (EH) is a profession recognised and established by Act 11 of Environmental Health Officers Registration Counc...

EFCC: You Do Not Change A Winning Team

By Iliyasu Gashinbaki Iliyasu Gashinbaki I have read the letter from the former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, addressed to the Chairmen of the Constitution Review Committee of both chambers of the National Assembly- Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives. I was looking for his prayers to the esteemed lawmakers on clear and unambiguous anomalies he observed in the Establishment Act of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that need legislative action in the review exercise. I must confess, I could not find any. Instead, the legal luminary made a sweeping statement that is neither rooted in facts nor verifiable evidence that “I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organisation.” How? I have asked myself repeatedl...

News Rider

Search This Blog