HOUSE OF REPS PUBLIC HEARING IN OWERRI: BILL HB 1349 DESERVES CONSIDERATION
Saturday, 19th July, Owerri the Imo State Capital will go agog as The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review convenes for the Zonal public hearing with the general public and all stakeholders in attendance.
Among the issues requiring consideration and which is of utmost concern for women, is actualisation of the Reserved Seats Bill for women in Legislative Houses, HB 1349.
This bill sponsored by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, Deputy Speaker/ Chairman, House of Representatives Committee has passed second reading.
Bill HB1349 when passed into law with amendment of Sections 48,49,91,77 and 117 will create additional Women Only seats in National and State Houses of Assembly for enhanced women’s inclusion in governance and political processes.
In preparation for the hearing, women have engaged in advocacies and town- hall meetings.
In Abia State for instance, the League of Women Voters (NILOWV) led by the Chairperson Hon. Mrs Blessing Nwagba, PhD with the sponsorship of the UN WOMEN have doggedly pursued the cause.
For two months now, the women have selflessly gathered thousands of endorsements by signatures, which will be published during the public hearing.
Women as pride of every family, community and nation, are soliciting the support of all and sundry to make the above dream come through for the overall growth of our nation.
And the time for this, is now.
