Reps want FG to declare Women Day public holiday

Posted by admin Women Politics Thursday, March 8th, 2012

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, Thursday, moved that the Federal Government should declare March 8 of every year to commemorate Women Day celebrations.

The House condemned all forms of discriminatory practices against the womenfolk and praised their courage and dexterity in the face of discrimination.

Towards this direction, the House resolved that every March 8 should be made a rest day for all Nigerians as a mark of respect for women.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on the need to eulogise the virtues of Nigerian women and their contributions to national development.

Onyejeocha, who represents Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, had brought the motion to the floor of the House as part of activities marking the International Women Day,IWD, a global celebration of the womenfolk across the world.

Leading debate, Onyejeocha said that every March 8 was set aside as the International Women’s Day to provide a common forum for highlighting gender inequalities, recognising and applauding the contributions of women to society.

She noted that though many women in progressive societies such as Nigeria enjoy some measure of liberty, there were still millions of women around the world who are suppressed, tortured and abused under several circumstances.

The House Chairman said Nigeria is yet to meet the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in politics while many women groan under harsh economic conditions and hopelessness.
”It is worrisome that our women still groan under poverty, economic hardship and political hopelessness.

Nigerian women in parliament consist of only 6.8 per cent of parliamentarians in the House of Representatives and about 28 per cent of the members of the Executive Council of the Federation.

”The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts. Women are not present in equal numbers in business or politics and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men,” Onyejeocha said. The motion was unanimously adopted.

-Vanguard

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