By Asmau Ahmad
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged the state governments in Nigeria to increase budgetary allocation for women affairs to enhanced societal development.
Programme Officer of UNFPA in Adamawa state, Dr Danladi Idrisa made the call at a news conference to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Yola on Monday.
IWD is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women around the globe. The campaign has #BreakTheBias as its 2022 theme.
The programme officer, who said that “women have vital roles to play for more development in the society, hence the need for government to do more,” advocated for women autonomy over their body with respect to family planning.
He said this would help to reduce the rate of mortality among women.
He commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for signing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill into law and called for prompt implementation.
He also urged the state’s House of Assembly for immediate passage of the Child Protection Bill for more development in the state and the country at large.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Lami Ga’anda reiterated government’s commitment toward ensuring that women were sensitised on their rights.
According to her, the move is not to make women to be above men, but to be carried along for a better society.
Mrs Ga’anda encouraged women to actively participate in politics and protect the interest of fellow women for accelerated development.
She said “the rejection of women’s bills at the National Assembly is because there are less women representatives.
“Politics is not a dirty game, hence the need for women to be involved.”
Mrs Serah Solomon, representing women’s movement, who described the IWD as a special day for women all over the world, added that the movement remained a strong force toward advocating for women’s rights.
She noted that the IWD celebration was also an avenue toward capacity development, especially on women inclusion, empowerment and skill acquisition programmes and urged the National Assembly to reconsider the gender-related bills and pass them.
