Tambuwal Assures Women On Protection

PRESIDENT JONATHAN (4TH L) UN UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL, MADAM MICHELLE BACHELET (M) NIGERIA PERMANENT REP TO UN, PROF JOY OGWU (2ND L) WITH NIGERIAN FEMALE MINISTERS DURING THE VISIT OF MADAM BACHELT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA. JANUARY 10, 2013

ABUJA, January 10, (THEWILL) - The Speaker of the House of  Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,  Thursday,  assured women that the House would give priority attention to  gender-related issues in the on- going constitution review.

Tambuwal gave this assurance when the United Nation Under Secretary- General for Entity, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, Mrs Michelle Machelet,  paid him a courtesy visit.

"In the House of Representatives as an institution, we have always been gender-friendly.," he said.

He explained that the House was doing everything possible to continue to support women in aspiring to various leadership positions.

Tambuwal disclosed that the Gender, Equal Opportunity and Violence against Women  Bill was undergoing legislative processes in the House.

He said that the on-going constitution amendment would address issues relating to women, especially as it has  to do with elective positions.

The speaker therefore enjoined women groups to sensitise the public on women participation in politics as he lauded the contributions of women to development in the past years.

Earlier. Machelet had urged the House to continue to expand the role of women in leadership positions through legislation that would give women equal participation in politics.

She noted that investment  in women was paramount to the sustenance of national development.

Machelet also commended the Federal  Government for the progress made so far in women participation in politics as she called on  the National Assembly to domesticate all protocols, treatise and conventions related to women issues.