The Senate, on Thursday, pledged to ensure a 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the National Assembly and all governance processes consistent with the country’s National Gender Policy (NGP) and United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The Senate made this promise while marking International Women’s Day, with a strong consensus to initiate legislation that would remove all barriers to the progress of women in the federation.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made the promise at a three-day programme organised to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day held at the Old Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The 2025 International Women’s Day, held under the theme, “Economic and Political Inclusion: Walk the Talk”, was commemorated to galvanise collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity in the country.
Attended by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jubrin; Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Minister for Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman -Ibrahim, the three-day programme was facilitated by Special Assistant to the Senate President on Public Hearing and Events, Ms. Munis Abisola and Director of Administration, Ms. Tabitha I. Sallah.
Addressing the vast gathering of women at the Old Senate Chamber yesterday, Akpabio said that the lawmakers would remove all obstacles to the socio-economic progress of women and gender equality in the federation.
Akpabio further explained: “We are discussing how women will have a solid stay not only in the National Assembly, but also in the country. We will do all we can to promote gender equality in this country even if it means to amend or tinker with the 1999 Constitution.
“Credible evidence has shown that women are better managers the world over. Sometimes, they can work harder than men. We must go back to where we have women in all spheres of life contributing to our collective progress and prosperity.
“We must, also, decisively condemn all issues of sexual harassment that are not founded. At the 10th National Assembly, we will promote legislation that will ensure 35% affirmative action in the country,” the president of the senate assured women at the commemoration.
Akpabio, therefore, highlighted how he promoted women’s cause when he served as the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State between 2007 and 2015, saying his records for women’s development were still evident.
Also at the commemoration yesterday, Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, disclosing how the president increased the budget of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs by 1000 percent
According to the woman affairs minister, we have done so well as women in this country. We have women in society in different sectors of the country. We should continue to work on ourselves to promote initiatives that will further entrench women’s progress and gender equality.
In her address of welcome, Sallah commended the National Assembly for diverse pro-women legislations, calling both chambers of the National Assembly to expedite action on all the pending gender parity issues currently before the National Assembly.
Sallah, who chaired the organising committee, said: “It is a reminder of the urgent need to expedite efforts on all pending gender parity issues. While we celebrate the progress made so far, we must also recognize that there is still much work to be done.
“The time to act is now. The time to ensure that every woman has access to opportunities, resources, and a voice in decision-making is now. The time to create a world where no woman is left behind is now.
“The year celebration is a celebration of resilience, strength, and the limitless potential of women. Again, it is also a reminder that our work is far from over until we begin to put into action the talks on the subject of the Beijing Declaration about 30 years ago,” she said.
