Women groups, under the umbrella of Womenifesto, have urged the National Assembly to reconsider gender-related bills before it.
The Co-convener of the groups, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, stated this during a virtual news conference on Sunday in Abuja.
Akiyode-Afolabi said: “We call on the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to call an urgent meeting.
“We want to urgent re-convening, reconsideration and immediate passage of the five women/gender-related bills.
“The passing of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, currently before the Senate; Resuscitation and the passage of the bill on ‘Support for Women Participation in Elective and Appointive Positions Bill 2020 before the House of Representatives; Immediate domestication of the African Charters Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, which Nigeria ratified in 2004; Immediate domestication of the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Nigeria ratified in 1985.”
Akiyode-Afolabi said a low women representation in leadership positions amounted to denying half of Nigeria’s population the voice and opportunity to contribute to governance and development.