Unfortunately, the bill suffered a slight set
back because there were some parts of the
bill that some senators disagreed with
along the lines of religion and tradition.
Senate President Bukola Saraki has
advised Nigerian women to re-introduce
the Gender Equality Bill, which was turned
down by the National Assembly on
Tuesday.
This is contained in a statement signed by
Ms Fatima Kakuri, Special Assistant on
Gender and Equality to the President of the
Senate and made available to the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday
in Abuja .
NAN recalls that the bill seeking gender
equality, sponsored by the Deputy Minority
Whip of the Senate, Biodun Olujimi, was
rejected by the Senate over alleged
constitutional violations.
Saraki therefore said that although the bill
had suffered setback, it could still be
amended and re-introduced.
“ Unfortunately, the bill suffered a slight set back
because there were some parts of the bill that
some senators disagreed with along the lines of
religion and tradition.
“The beauty of democracy is that it gives us the
opportunity to consider different opinions and this
bill can still be represented and reconsidered on
the floor of the Senate.
“I have it on good authority that Sen. Biodun
Olujimi, who introduced this bill will reintroduce it
after re-drafting it to address some of the
reservations that were expressed on the floor of
the Senate.
“As I said during the International Women’s Day
last week, I am of the opinion that there are
substantial parts of the bill that are crucial to the
development of our nation.
“ Such bills like the Equal Access to Education,
Strengthening of the laws on Violence against
Women, Ending Abduction of Girls, Sustenance and
Promotion of Entrepreneurship Opportunities,
Gender Mainstreaming and Gender equality are
equally important ,” he said.
NAN reports that this is the third time the
Gender Equality Bill would be rejected by
the National Assembly, and the recent
rejection has generated a lot of reactions
from women groups.
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