•Over child custody, inheritance

From Fred Itua, Abuja

Six months after the Senate rejected it, the lawmakers passed the “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against Women” bill for a second reading yesterday.
The bill is sponsored by Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti south).
On March 15, 2016, the Senate blocked the bill over claims that it contradicts the 1999 Constitution.
Senator Olujimi had argued that if the bill was passed, a widow would automatically become the custodian of her children and also inherit her husband’s property.
Senate Majority Leader Ali Ndume had criticised the bill and urged Nigerians to stick with either religious or traditional marriage.
Similarly, Senator Sani Yerima from Zamfara State also condemned it, urging that it was in conflict with the Constitution. He said the bill negates the principles of the Sharia law, which the Constitution recognizes.
But during the consideration of the bill yesterday, lawmakers supported the bill, but expressed reservations that it could go against certain sections of the Constitution.
Olujimi said that “Section 4 of the bill deals with prohibition of discrimination and provides that no person, organ or agency of government, public or private institution, commercial or corporate body, community, or other entity shall either through words spoken, acts, inactions, omissions, laws, regulations, administrative procedures, policy, guideline, rules, customs or practices discriminate against any person on the ground of gender, age or disability.”
Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu urged relevant committees to interrogate the contents of the bill when it, is tabled for public hearing.
He said: “I want us to support this bill. We can then interrogate this bill when it gets to the committee and finally goes to for public hearing. We need to ensure that it does not go against some of the existing legislation that we have already.
Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Oluremi Tinubu, said the bill would liberate women who have been cheated. She noted that future generations of women will benefit more from it.
“We need to amend some parts of the Constitution to accommodate the interest of the women. We should do the best we can with this bill. This bill is for the good of our children. Look at what America is doing with Hillary Clinton. We need to do the same thing in Nigeria. This bill is not you and me, but for future generations unborn,” she noted.
Senator Binta Garba from Adamawa State, urged her colleagues to see women as equal partners, rather than as competitors. She admitted that while men were heads of their homes, it was however different in the administrative circle.
She said: “We need to put the affirmative action into the constitution in order to give women the right they deserve. We are partners in progress. We are not fighting women. Men are the heads of family, but when it comes to administrative issues, we need to work hand in hand.”
Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye disagreed with Ekweremadu, maintaining that the contents of the bill do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.
“I am supporting this bill on behalf of my daughters, wife and mother. I believe this Senate is fair-minded and we do not want discrimination against any woman. I hold the view that of all the forms of discrimination, the worst is that of gender discrimination,” he said.
In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki, hailed lawmakers for adopting a bipartisan approach in resolving the logjam surrounding the bill.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further consideration. It is expected to report back within four weeks.