The Senate at its plenary session of Wednesday, March 8th 2017, felicitated with Nigerian Women on the occasion of the 2017 International Women’s Day (IWD) Celebration. Leading the debate on a motion titled ” Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030,” Sen. Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa) stated that the IWD is a day that honors the achievements of women and calls attention to the rights of women all over the world.
Sen. Masi Garba further noted that this year’s IWD focuses on Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which seeks to achieve “Full and productive employment and decent work for all women, including young people and persons with disabilities and equal pay for work of equal value”. She explained that the achievement of this goal rests upon unlocking the full potential of women in the world of employment.
Expressing concern over the poor implementation of policies that prohibit violence against women, Sen. Garba Masi pointed out that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) that was signed into law in 2015 is yet to be domesticated across the thirty-six states of the Federation. She also expressed dismay over the significant under-representation of women as legislators, senior government officials and in some other elective offices.
In furtherance to the motion, the Senate resolved to mandate its Committee on Women Affairs to consider the issue of domestication and implementation of the VAPP Act in all States. It is noteworthy that other co-sponsors of the motion included the other six female Senators of the 8th National Assembly, Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP: Anambra.), Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC: Lagos), Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP: Ekiti), Sen. Fatima Raji- Rasaki (PDP: Ekiti) Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu (APC: Oyo ), Sen. Rose Oko (PDP: Cross River) as well as a male Senator, Sen. Yele Omogunwa representing Ondo South Senatorial District.
The House of Representatives also considered a similar motion at its plenary session in honor of the International Women’s Day Celebration.
