The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has reiterated the commitment of the 10th House to advancing women empowerment and achieving gender equality through progressive legislation.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the national leadership of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the Speaker assured that the current House of Representatives is determined to break the longstanding jinx of failed gender bills in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
“We are truly a People’s House… a house built on the sanctity of human rights
“We are determined more than ever before to break the jinx. The failures of the past will be a thing of the past”Abbas stated.
During the visit, the Acting President of the NCWS, Mrs. Geraldine Ita Etuk, decorated the Speaker with the council’s muffler, honoring him as a “Global He-for-She” for his pro-women initiatives.
The Speaker highlighted the House’s commitment to women’s issues by establishing two gender-focused standing committees: the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Committee on Women in Parliament. He described the move as a reflection of the House’s gender-sensitive nature.
“We are resolute. We are determined,” Speaker Abbas said, urging the NCWS to intensify their advocacy by engaging key stakeholders to support the legislative push for gender equality.
In her remarks, Mrs. Etuk praised the Speaker’s efforts in championing women’s empowerment and called for training programs to build the capacity of women while advocating for an expanded presence of the NCWS nationwide.
