We’ll address  issues impeding women’s development – Gbajabiamila

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

Gbajabiamila stated this, on Monday, in Abuja, while declaring open the  commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day, organized by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians at the National Assembly.

The speaker noted thar, apart from collaborating with all critical local and international stakeholders, the House will leverage on the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to holistically address the issue of violence against women and other issues impeding the development of women.

According to him,  “I assure you that this 9th House of Representatives will continue to take actions to address the challenges militating against the advancement of women in all spheres of human endeavour.

“I ask all of you here today to support the House in this regard so that together we can make the world a better place for all our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues.

“This is part of our Legislative Agenda, and we must at the end of it be able to tick that box that we said we would; we have this contract with Nigerians and we did”.

“This is a matter of constitutional amendments in many regards, and we will be up and doing. I trust the 9th House to be up to the ultimate task in removing whatever obstacles in the past to make sure that this thing is a thing of the past”.

Earlier, the chairperson, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Zainab Gimba,

noted hat the International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a platform for action to accelerate gender parity.

However, Gimba  identified gender inequality as one of the greatest threats to Africa’s future.

She said there is need for conscious efforts to ensure that women are part of the decision making process.

“We must take conscious steps to ensure women’s involvement in every sphere of the decision-making process to usher in an inclusive development,” the lawmaker said.