The Enugu State House of Assembly, has reassured women of continuous gender friendliness, support and protection in the discharge of its legislative functions.
The reassurance was given by the House Speaker Edward Ubosi, during a peaceful protest by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Enugu state chapter, and other women groups in the state at the State House of Assembly in commemoration of the International Women’s day celebration for the year 2022.
Ubosi who was represented by the House Committee Chairman on Information Hon Jeff Mba told women that Enugu State government and Enugu State House of Assembly had always shown friendliness to women affairs.
According to him, “I want you to look through what is going on in Enugu State. We have women occupying one position or the other. Enugu State House of Assembly is one of the States that has passed the law prohibiting violence against women, whereas many states have not passed that law.
“Enugu State House of Assembly insisted that our own mothers, wives, sisters must be protected. Whatever that is reserved for women both at the executive and legislative level, you can be sure that Enugu State House of Assembly will support you fully”.
“If you observe, all women we have in Enugu State House of Assembly are all principal officers. It is gender friendly, and we are protecting the women that are with us. When more will come in the next election, we will give them the right place”.
“Our assurance is that we will always work with you. If you have any private member bills, any bill that you think will take care of this issue please bring it to Enugu State House of Assembly and we will give it expeditious passage he said”.
The Chairperson, NAWOJ Enugu state, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, earlier in her speech during the protest march expressed disappointment over the rejection of five demands by Nigerian women which includes the right for Nigerian women in diaspora to vote during election while their foreign-born husbands should be given Nigerian citizenship.
The right for a woman to take indigenship of her husband’s State after five years of marriage, 35 percent appointed positions for women, 35 percent affirmative action for women in party administration and allocation of specific seats for women in National Assembly, end discrimination against women.
Ngene advised women to go to their various constituencies and remind their representatives at the National Assembly of their promises to their constituencies. She appealed to the National Assembly to revisit and pass the women’s bills into law.
A member Board of Trustee NAWOJ Southeast zone C Comrade Ngozi Mba
In her address said that the refusal to sign the five bills for women in the Constitution was an indication that Nigeria is still in dark ages.
She appealed to the National Assembly to revisit that Constitution stressing that women are the majority and need those five bills which is among other bills in the Constitution. She also appealed to women to join hands together to achieve this demand.
Executive Director, Women Aid Collective WACOL, Professor Joy Ezeilo emphasized that Nigerian women have come to register their disappointment and dissatisfaction in the exclusion of women in the Constitution of Nigeria by the National Assembly.
She lamented on the utmost disrespect that the National Assembly treated the issue of women’s right stressing that women have right to participate in the government of their country. They must have a voice in decisions affecting them.
“They must include women in their Constitution. Constitution is the highest law in the land. Constitution is about social justice and equality,” she said.
