The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, has urged the incoming administration not to renege on the country’s commitment to 35 per cent affirmative action by appointing more women into key positions in the executive and the legislative arms.
A communique issued at the just concluded congress of NAWOJ in Abuja, signed by the Chairperson, Com. Annah Daniel and Secretary, Com. Nkiru Okeke also condemned in strong terms the raising rate of sexually and gender based violence (SGBV) and called for strict enforcement of VAPP ACT by state governments.
The Association also urged strong and deliberate synergy for advocacy amongst groups in fighting the menace, as well as expedite actions in meting out severe punishment to perpetrators to serve as deterrent to just others.
The Association, however, frowned at the poor performances of women in politics, which is believed to be due to gross electoral malpractices bothering on vote buying, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidations, voter suppression amongst others.
In the communique, the association urged the federal government to take proactive steps in rescuing the remaining kidnapped CHIBOK girls, lamenting that it has been nine years since the young girls were abducted.
“Following warnings of impeding flooding in parts of the country the association called on the National Emmergency Management Agency (NEMA) to create more awareness on flood prevention to avert devastating consequences of not heeding the early warnings.
“On the difficulties experienced by many Nigerians, especially women and children, following the introduction of new naira notes and ban on the old notes the women journalists blamed it on poor planning and tasked the federal goverment, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be proactive and ensure that the new notes would be in circulation before the new deadline of December 31, which is fast approaching,” the communique read.
