Tambuwal Seeks Tougher Laws To Tackle Violence Against Women!

By Olumide T. Agunbiade

 Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Monday in Abuja, decried the increasing violence against women in Nigeria, calling for stiffer penalties against perpetrators of the crime.

The speaker made the call at the third National Women in Parliament (WIP) Summit, which had as theme, “Advancing the Gender Agenda in Nigeria: The Role of Lawmakers” jointly organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Women in Parliament, Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGD II), Ministry of Women Affairs and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in Abuja.

“We need to toughen the law on domestic violence and take more punitive measures against people who target women during violent crashes. This way, people will know that it doesn't pay to discriminate against women. Besides, there is growing evidence that gender inequality and discrimination contribute to the increase in poverty. It does not only deny a large part of our citizens their rights to achieve their potentials, but it also denies the nation the benefits of the contribution of these people,” he said.

According to the speaker, “the legislature, which represents the interest of every Nigerian, has a duty to defend anyone against discrimination. We are determined to make sure that there are no second class citizens in this country and we shall do everything possible to protect the rights of women.”

In his speech at the occasion, the Project Director of the DGD II Project, Dr. Mourtada Deme, said the work of women has frequently underpinned the socio-economic development of nation-states, despite the lack of public recognition of women’s efforts.

He said, “Given Nigeria’s struggle with nation-building, in which directions can it look for support in this process? While women have already made a significant contribution to nation-building in Nigeria, their potential for contribution in a number of areas, including as leaders, has yet to be fully realised.”

The Dean, Faculty of Social Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Prof. Olabisi Aina, in her keynote address, said gender issues are different from women issues and that the National Assembly must help the cause of women to make them better in their different roles of being wives, mothers and builders, among others.