Mr. Magaji Henry, the Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has assured the public of the house’s readiness to pass the Gender Equality Opportunities (GEO) bill, tasking women to ensure their visibility in all facets of life.
Henry gave the assurance at a Civil Society Organisation (CSO’s) citizens legislative town hall meeting on the introduction and benefits of the GEO bill in Kaduna state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the GEO bill is a legislation that seeks to domesticate the convention on discrimination against women in Kaduna state.
Henry stated that when women became more visible in governance and other activities aimed at betterment of life in general, it would impact more on children, especially girls who were backward in education.
“Women should rise up to the contemporary challenges, they don’t need to wait for any law.
“If they decide to be a force to be reckoned with by their attitude, hard work and resilience, no one can stop them from achieving what ever they set up to achieve.
“The law is, however, necessary but women must rise up to take their positions in the society.”
Henry said the 10th assembly would not operate on the usual business.
He stressed that members would guard the mandate given to them by the people of Kaduna State without negotiation.
“We will do that with all our strength and ensure we bring value and dividends required of us to the citizens.
“If there is any time in this country that democracy is bound to thrive, it is now that the people should enjoy the dividends,” he said.
Earlier in a remark, Mr Oluwafemi Adebayo, the Senior Programme Manager of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), the organisers of the meeting, said they had been advocating and sensitising the public to be aware of the GEO bill.
Adebayo, however said the initiative could not do it all alone and without getting the legislators to be in the picture, hence they were engaged in various foras and some even volunteered to sponsor the GEO bill.
The town hall meeting is to enable the legislators interact with the citizens and enable them (citizens) to ask questions and understand the bill better.
According to him, the bill will enhance participation of the people, especially women in democratic and political process.
“I want to place more emphasis on women, but it is important to know that the GEO bill is not all about them, but for the boy and girl child,” he said.
The programme manager added that the bill would remove all forms of discrimination in areas such as social norms that hindered women, especially the elderly citizens from participating in leadership process.
Also, Ms Beatrice Eyong, the United Nations (UN) Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the meeting was a significant stride towards rectifying gender disparities in political representation and the economic progress of the nation.
Eyong, represented by Mr Oluwaseun Adetutu, Program Analyst of UN Women Nigeria, added that in the context of Nigeria’s historical struggle for women’s political inclusion, the GEO bill emerged as a beacon of change.
She stated the importance of articulating the key requests embedded in the bill, including expansion of the scope of citizenship by registration and the inclusion of special seats for women at the National Assembly.
“The GEO bill specifies the special need for women and girls to participate in both elective and appointive positions and creating a level playing field and fostering gender equity.
“The timeliness and significance of this gathering cannot be overemphasised, considering the current economic challenges in Nigeria which has further intensified the urgency of legislative measures like the GEO bill.
“It is not just a bill, it is a catalyst for sustainable development and a testament to our shared commitment to gender equality,” she said.
The Country representative, therefore, said the UN women objectives aligned with the broader goal of fostering dialogue and understanding among diverse stakeholders.
One of the stakeholders, Mrs Bukola Ajao, the Chairperson of Civil Society Coalition Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Kaduna State, said the GEO bill would be changed to gender equity bill.
Ajao, who is also a private legal practitioner and a human rights advocate, said the “equity” would ensure fairness and give everybody the opportunity, adding that the bill was all inclusive.
“The bill is not all about women alone, but across all gender and age, people with disability, and touches all facets, including economy, education, employment, and many others.”
The bill is expected to come out with a lot of policy opportunities that would be backed up by existence of the law.
NAN reports that the town hall meeting had in attendance traditional, religious, and youth leaders, CSOs and lawmakers.
The town hall meeting was supported by the UN Women, with funding from the Canada Government.(NAN)
