Senate Will Re-introduce Gender Equality Bill – Saraki
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 (THEWILL) – Senate President, Bukola Saraki has stated that the Senate would soon re-introduce the Gender Equality Bill that was thrown out by the senators at plenary few weeks ago.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday, in Abuja, when Fatimah Samora, United Nations (UN) Country Representative, led a delegation of members of the United Nation Development Programmes (UNDP) on a visit to the Senate president.
He said the bill would be re-listed as soon as possible, and all contending issues of violence, participation in governance, education and entrepreneurship would have been addressed in the new bill as he responded to Samora's call for the need to revisit the controversial Gender Equality Bill.
“I can assure you that the bill will be reintroduced as soon as possible as all contending issues in the bill like violence, education and inheritance are being addressed,” he said.
”I want to reassure you that this Senate is going to pursue goals similar to that of the United Nations in Nigeria. You can see we have a size able number of the Senators present here, that reflects the readiness and commitment of this present Senate to collaborate with you.
“We are very keen to have the Bill come back to us as soon as possible and we are very hopeful that this time around it would be passed.
“The issues regarding education, participation in governance, entrepreneurship have been identified, I am sure that by the time the bill is reconsidered it will sail through.”
Samora had appealed for financial support in the furnishing of the rehabilitated UN building in Abuja that was bombed by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2010 adding that the building would be reopened during the fifth anniversary of the bombing which will take place in August this year.
She also solicited for increased counterpart funding of the HIV pandemic and more funds to enable communities displaced by the Boko Haram in the Northeast return to their respective homes.
Story by David Oputah