Kwara Assembly Plans Bill On Gender Equality

The Kwara State House of Assembly yesterday said it would enact a bill on gender equitable opportunities for adequate representation of both genders in public and political offices.

The leader of the House, Barr. Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, made this public  on the sidelines of a two-day retreat for members of the state House of Assembly in Ilorin.

The retreat was at the instance of UN Women in Nigeria in conjunction with the  National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and was  titled “Towards the Passage of Gender Equitable Opportunities Bill in Kwara State”.

Magaji said the state government had shown commitment to gender inclusion in governance while the state legislature would not hesitate to offer legislation that would help close gender gap.

“The retreat on Gender Equitable Opportunities Bill is a very good thing. I can tell you that by the special grace of God, very soon, Kwara is going to pass bill on Gender Equitable Opportunities. It is going to be a reality. It is going to come to fruition in Kwara State,” he said.

On Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, the lawmaker recalled that its legal framework was passed and assented in the Ninth Assembly of the House, saying that it requires enlightenment and awareness for the public to be cognisant of it.

He said : “The simplest thing is when people are aware of the law. When you are aware about your rights as passed by the law, that is when people will be able to complain that my rights have been infringed upon. 

“What we need is sensitisation and more information to the people so that they will know the law that has been passed and the rights they enjoy under that law”.

In her remarks, the member representing Owode/Onire Constituency of Asa local government, Rukayat Shittu, said sensitisation on the VAPP law should centre on areas that protect rights of male and female.