News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), Mrs Deborah Aber has pledged to work with the League of Women Voters Nigeria, (NILOWV), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Benue State Chapter, and other partners to actualize the “Her -Seat-in -Parliament” campaign.
The campaign which aims at boosting women representation in the parliament was also endorsed by the Deputy Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs Lami Danladi.
Mrs Aber gave the support when the leadership of NILOWV, NAWOJ and Lawyers Alert paid her an advocacy visit in her office in Makurdi.
The SSG stated that although women have made their mark in the polity, the needed level of participation is still lacking.
Aber praised the commitment of Benue women in aligning with their counterparts across the country in the campaign for 74 additional legislative seats across the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assemblies to enhance women’s representation.
Earlier, the State Chairperson of NILOWV, Mrs. Ruth Kpengwa explained that having more women especially at legislative level was vital to actualizing gender equity and fairness.
National representative of “Her -Seat-in -Parliament” Project, Mr. Charles Aneni appealed to the SSG to serve as a flag bearer in mobilizing stakeholders for the upcoming Town Hall meeting in Benue State on the bill.
Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs Lami Danladi, has pledged full support to the campaign.
Speaking during an advocacy to her office, the law maker stressed the importance of mentorship in ensuring that more women are empowered to contest for political positions in the next general elections.
Chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ Benue State, Comrade Elizabeth Achagh called for more awareness creation to drive the conversation on the 74 special seats bill to ensure its adoption and subsequent passage.
A representative of Lawyers Alert, Solumtoochukwu Ozobulu explained that the bill, when passed will provide the constitutional ground for women to leverage in amplifying their voices in developing policies and programmes that directly affect them.
