NHRC commends plan to create 111 extra legislative seats for women

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has lauded the plan of National Assembly to create 111 extra seats for women in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A statement on Sunday by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of NHRC, Fatimah Mohammed, cited the Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, as lauding the bill.

The statement was named ‘NHRC gives kudos to NASS in support of 111 special additional seats for women -Ojukwu.’

As indicated by the statement, Ojukwu recollected that the commission had on numerous instances partnered with civil society organisations, United Nations Development Programmes, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to propose ‘Women Participation in Election Bill’ and other related bills that strive to give legal backing to positive action towards broadening the gap for women to participate in politics and governance in the nation.

Ojukwu was cited as saying, “In Nigeria, most of the laws and policies in Nigeria today need affirmative action to be mainstreamed into them so that all can appreciate and understand issues bothering on the female gender.”

He also lauded Nigerian women, especially the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen; and Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, for individually supporting and funding the bill pursuing to create 111 extra distinctive seats for women in the National Assembly.

Ojukwu guaranteed Nigerian women that the commission would keep on showing unity in every support towards the bill passage into law and also back them in advocating other causes to additionally defend women from discrimination and other violation of human rights.