…House of Reps Petitions IGP, Demands Swift Action on Violence Against Women and Girls
By Stella Okoh-Esene
In a powerful demonstration of commitment to ending gender-based violence, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., on Monday led members of the 10th House on an advocacy walk to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; Majority Leader, Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere; Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; and other House members and senior aides, Speaker Abbas championed the movement against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The walk also saw the participation of key stakeholders, including Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; and the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Dayo Israel, among others.
As part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, themed “No Excuse for Violence!”, the advocacy walk started at the National Assembly Complex and culminated at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters. There, the House presented a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, urging decisive action on investigating and prosecuting cases of violence against women and girls.
Speaking to participants midway through the walk, at the National Assembly gate, Speaker Abbas underscored the importance of the campaign and the House’s dedication to addressing GBV.
“This is a historic moment,” he said. “The National Assembly has chosen to become an active partner in the fight against gender-based violence. Across the globe, women are crying out in anger and frustration as reports show that every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. This is an unacceptable and unforgivable trend.
“The 10th House of Representatives is committed to working with law enforcement agencies to curb this menace to the barest minimum. We will do everything possible to drastically reduce—if not completely eliminate—violence against women and girls in our society.”
The Speaker also announced plans for the House to play a pivotal role in the upcoming National Action Plan Against Violence Against Women, promising active participation in formulating pro-poor policies that address this issue.
Following his address, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, led a delegation to the Force Headquarters to submit the petition on behalf of the House, calling for thorough investigations into reported cases of violence against women and girls.
Over the next 16 days, the House of Representatives will actively engage in various activities to sustain momentum in the campaign against GBV and reaffirm its commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls across Nigeria.