Nigeria’s first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari and the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo mounted pressure on the parliament for the passage of all women gender bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The first lady had on February 23 visited the upper and lower legislative Chambers with her entourage where they were welcomed by the lawmakers. They were in the parliament to observe proceedings of the day and to witness the laying of the Constitution Review Report preparatory for yesterday’s commencement of legislative debates.
The Constitution Review Committee was headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the Senate, while the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase chaired that of the House Committee.
Both Chambers adopted electronic means of voting for purposes of transparency, though in the Senate on Tuesday, the votes commencement day, the machine had technical hitch which was later resolved.
Meanwhile, the wife of the Vice President was present at the upper and lower legislative Chambers on the day of voting in solidarity with her womenfolk and for lawmakers to consider passing women gender bills in the Constitution.
Her presence notwithstanding, Federal Lawmakers voted against all gender bills in the Constitution Amendment exercise.
“The vote to provide for 15% affirmative action for women in political party administration, failed in the house of Representatives with 224 yes and 77 No. They failed to get 2/3 of the votes.
“Also the vote to allow women take up indigenship of their husbands state after 5 years of being together, failed in the House of Representatives.
“The vote to create special seats for women in national and State Houses of Assembly failed woefully too.
