Women’s organisations across the state, including the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, have embarked on advocacy visits to push for the passage of a Special Bill for Women currently before the National Assembly.
During a visit to the liaison offices of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, and the lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, the Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Dr. Blessing Nwagba, said the nationwide advocacy is aimed at securing lawmakers’ support to ensure the bill attains the required two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for its passage.
Dr. Nwagba explained that the proposed legislation is designed to promote inclusiveness and aligns with international frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
She further revealed that similar advocacy efforts have been carried out at national and zonal levels, adding that the current visits to constituency offices are intended to secure broad-based endorsement from lawmakers ahead of the resumption of legislative sittings.
Other speakers, including Mrs. Joy Nwagbara of Women in Politics, Miss Solomon Nmesoma Favour, and Mrs. Ifeoma Ohaeri, alongside members of the NCWS and young women in politics, emphasized the urgent need for the bill’s passage.
They noted that enhancing women’s participation in lawmaking remains critical to national development.
Also speaking, the Team Lead of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Judith Umeadi, called on federal lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the bill before the forthcoming elections, stressing that Nigeria stands to gain significantly from increased female inclusion if the proposed legislation is given priority attention.
