Headlines
Women in parliament seek appointment of female defence minister
The 9th Assembly Women in Parliament, on Monday, called for the appointment of a woman as Minister of Defence.
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Women in Parliament, Rep Taiwo Oluga, made the call during a press briefing in Abuja.
Oluga said that if a woman is appointed as defence minister, the security challenges confronting the country would be effectively tackled.
In her words, “For the first time in history, let a woman be appointed as minister of defence and you will see the action; you will see a positive change in our security architecture.”
Oluga said it was disheartening that despite the advocacy and attempt by women groups and parliamentarians to have increased women’s participation in Nigerian politics, not much progress seemed to have been made.
“Going by the number of women, who are currently nominated by various political parties and are vying for elective offices in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections, there are serious issues of concern as it seems that the figure in the current assembly might worsen if drastic steps are not taken immediately
“Before the last primary elections, Nigeria ranked amongst the lowest number of women participation in governance in Africa, with about 6.2 per cent of national parliamentarians being women,” she said.
She expressed concern over the development.
“The question Is, of the less than 8 per cent of women nominated for elective offices in 2023, how many women would emerge victorious at the general elections?
“The point is that even if all these women win their elections, the figure remains very low and a cause for serious concern and action.
“Another question is, is there a taboo baring woman from vying for the highest decision-making position in Nigeria, that is the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
“This is because, out of all the 18 political parties in Nigeria, only the APM (Allied Peoples Movement) fielded a female presidential candidate,” she said.
The lawmaker said in some states like Kano, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, no single woman was nominated as presidential or national assembly candidate for the 2023 polls.
“The Implication of this is that, even before next year’s elections in Nigeria, it is crystal clear that 13.5 per cent of states will not have women in elective offices in their National Assembly seats,” she said.
Oluga described the development as a huge setback in attaining 35 per cent affirmative action in elective and appointive offices in Nigeria.
She attributed factors inhibiting women’s participation in politics to patriarchy, stigmatisation, low level of women’s education, financial problem, and political violence, among others.
She, however, said that the committee, with other development partners, would step up activities on the need to discourage religious beliefs and cultural practices that militate against women’s participation in politics.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised in conjunction with the European Union, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and other partners.
(NAN)
Headlines
Commission, journalists partner to revamp water sector in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission (KADWREC) says it is partnering media practitioners towards revamping water services in the state.
Mr Dogara Bashir, the Executive Chairman of KADWREC, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners on regulation of ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) activities held in Kaduna.
Bashir said the commission was aware of the importance of the role media practitioners played in the society.
He stated that the workshop was to provide an avenue to liaise with them as important stakeholders on water supply and sanitation services in the state.
Bashir said: “As media practitioners, we believe you are a gateway to the citizens so, the workshop would acquaint you with some of the regulations already in place so that you can in turn transmit it to the public
“The state of water services in Kaduna State is in dire need of attention and the State Water Corporation and KADWREC were established towards addressing the seeming challenges.
“The commission is mandated to ensure better service delivery and regulation of water and sanitation services in the State.
“The idea is that once the regulations are developed, we send them to the State Ministry of Justice to gazette and then we get the state government to endorse and give the go ahead to commence the implementation of the regulations
“We intend to implement them fully come January, 2025 God willing, as we have embarked on advocacy activities having gone to zones 1 and 2 where we talked to traditional rulers, security agencies and the Judiciary.”
He disclosed that a special Court has already been attached to the commission by the Chief Judge of the State for service providers who may likely violate regulations.
The chairman further said that amongst the commission’s objectives include ensuring security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of water to the consumers as well making regulations to control the sinking of boreholes.
Others included; maximising access to water services by promoting and facilitating consumer connections to distribution systems in urban and rural areas.
According to Bashir, they also include ensuring that regulatory decision-making has regards to all the relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislation applying to the water sector.
Bashir further said that the commission collaborate with the relevant state and federal agencies on water policies.
Crime
2 ladies docked for allegedly obtaining money by fraud
The police in Lagos have dragged two women, Mmesuma Ofunna, and Blessing Adimekwe, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged obtaining money by false pretence.
Ofunna, 22, and Adimekwe, 25, were arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K J Layeni, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to breach peace.
They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, told the court that the defendants conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on Oct. 26 at the Okokomaiko area of Ojo.
He alleged that they had obtained the sum of N70, 000 from one Faith Ahamefule, with a promise not to post her nude photo on social media.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendants later posted the nude photo of the nominal complainant on social media, knowing that their promise was false.
He alleged that they stole the N70, 0000, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 168(d), 287, 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The court granted the defendants bails in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until Jan. 8, 2025 for mention.
Headlines
Driver jailed 6 months for attempting to steal a car
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday, sentenced a 37-year-old driver, Ahmad Umar to six months in imprisonment for attempting to steal a car.
The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N30, 000 fine or spend six months in prison.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 10, at the Area Command Police station through a distress call by one Sydney Peacemorie the complainant.
Gokwat said the complainant parked his Toyota RAV4 in front of Access Bank and went inside to carry out some transactions, only to return to find the convict inside his car.
“The convict unlawfully opened the car and was in the driver’s seat when the complainant raised alarm and he was apprehended, but his accomplice escaped.
“The convict was severely beaten by a mob but was rescued by the police,” said Gokwat.
“The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.
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