The Senate on Thursday pledged to protect the interest of women in the ongoing Constitution review process.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC – Delta Central) have this indication when the leadership of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, presented a memorandum to the Committee.
Omo-Agege who is also the deputy president of the Senate, also revealed that concrete moves towards the alteration of the 1999 constitution would commence soon.
He said that the committee is already warming up for the task even as several Bills have been forwarded to the Committee in addition to memoranda being received from different interest groups in the country.
Omo-Agege assured women that their interest would be protected against discrimination in whatever form, but not to the detriment of constitutional provisions.
“Let me appreciate the League of Women Voters of Nigeria for this memorandum. It is very timely and apt because the Constitution Review committee is already steaming for action.
“Anything about women is very important to us because the day women decide to speak with one voice, men will definitely be in trouble.
“I know part of what would be in the proposals just submitted, will be about increase in proportion of women participation in governance in line with the Beijing protocol but that would be looked into in a way that would not infract with provisions of the constitution as regards gender discrimination.
“Although what you have submitted in the memorandum will be thoroughly perused by us but in line with our procedures, your proposals would still be needed to be routed through bill submission and consideration by the Senate in plenary.
“So, from our own end here, a Bill would have to be sponsored on proposals for Constitution amendment made by the women voters, for it to be officially forwarded to the committee as part of other numerous bills that had been received to that effect,” Omo-Agege said.
Earlier in her presentation, the National Secretary of the League of Women Voters, Pastor (Mrs) Reginald Omo-Agege, said all proposals made in the memorandum, were geared towards making the voice of women heard in the scheme of things in the country.
The vision of the network according to her, “is to be Nigeria’s leading Network for women’s empowerment, leadership and achievement, driven by participatory democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.”
Other National officers of the group at the presentation were Dr. Aisha Lemu and Mrs. Mate Olori.
Source: Thenation
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