March 08, (THEWILL) – As the global community marks the International Women’s Day, hundreds of Nigerian women, under the aegis of ‘100 Women Lobby Group’ on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly to protest the rejection of the bill on women inclusiveness.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the group’s president, Felicia Onibon, said the international Women’s Day celebration “is an opportunity for Nigerian women to lend their voices to the development of the country and it is a shame for the lawmakers to discriminate against women.
“We are being denied the rights to make the country great especially considering our crucial roles in the homefront. We are asking the NASS to rescind their decision in order to ensure the inclusion of women in governance.”
THEWILL recalls that women, under the aegis of Nigerian Women Groups, had last week protested against the action of the National Assembly who had rejected all women-related bills including the one seeking to give at least ten slots to women as ministers and commissioners in the federal and state governments.
The women who came out in large numbers, had urged the lawmakers to reconsider the bills for the purpose of gender balance.
Speaking during the protest, the Executive Director, Center for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassaan, had urged the lawmakers to reconsider the bill and give women more rights.
She said, “We constitute about 49 percent of the population and we are all the same, they should sign our bill.”
About the Author
