The leadership of the House of Representatives, has pledged legislative interventions for women empowerment and inclusion in governance, as the world marks the International Women’s Day.
The United Nations had themed the 2024 edition of the International Women’s Day as ‘Invest in Women; Accelerate Progress.’
In their separate remarks on the commemoration on Friday, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, BenjaminKalu gave the assurances.
The Speaker, in his closing address at a ceremony organised by the National Assembly to celebrate women, disclosed some of the plans he personally has for women, as well as those of the House, including amending the Police Act to be fairer to women and revisiting the gender-related bills that failed to pass in the last review of the 1999 Constitution by the 9th National Assembly.
“Critically, I am leading an amendment to the Police Act 2022 to ensure uniformity in the enlistment requirements for men and women; amend the rule that excludes married women from enlisting in the police and delete the regulation that provides that unmarried women may only marry after they have served in the police for three years, subject to approval from a police commissioner,” the Speaker said.
Speaker Abbas stated that the House is committed to working with the Executive arm to “create an enabling environment that allows women access finances for investment, take on leadership roles, excel in their chosen careers, and actively participate in national policy-making and dialogue.”
The Deputy Speaker, Kalu, while declaring the event open earlier on the Speaker’s behalf, said the theme of this year’s edition served as a clarion call for individuals, organisations, and all stakeholders to join hands and pave the path toward gender-inclusive governance.
“The need for diversity and inclusion, particularly in terms of increasing women’s representation in government, is not just a statistical exercise; it is a fundamental democratic principle,” he stated, noting that while Nigeria boasts a thriving ecosystem of female-led businesses, the persistence of a significant funding gap had been identified.
He said: “In recognition of this disparity, my office is actively working to bridge the gap. Through strategic collaborations with innovation and tech organisations such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and AfriLabs, we intend to develop policies and facilitate stakeholder dialogues on strategies to increase financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs These strategies will culminate in the launching of proactive initiatives specifically geared toward the removal of barriers to financial inclusivity”.
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