The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, has warned against the prohibition of electronic transmission of results and increase in campaign expenses stressing that it was not in favour of women seeking for electoral positions.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its July Congress signed by the Association’s Chairperson, Comrade Annah Daniel; and Secretary, Comrade Nkiru Nnoli Okeke.
According to the communique, the Association discussed issues bothering on the State of the Nation including insecurity, especially as it concerns kidnapping of school children, killings and banditry and other violent crimes; hike in prices of food items, as well as the rising cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV); among others.
It read in part, “Congress while commending the National Assembly on the on-going ammendment of the Electoral Act, however, noted that some sections were not in favour of women seeking for electoral positions.
“In particular, Congress decried the fact that campaign expenditure margin increase was hindrance especially when women in politics have continued to cry out over paucity of campaign funds.
“Congress stressed that increase in the limits for campaign expenses from N1 billion to N15 billion for President; N2 million to N5 billion for Governors; N40 million to N1.5 billion for Senate, N30 million to N500 million for House of Representatives, and N10 million to N50 million for House of Assemblies; will further affect chances of women who hardly get tickets of the big political parties.
“Similarly, the prohibition of electronic transmission of results and the removal of INEC’s power to review results declared under duress or in contravention of electoral laws and guidelines are also cause for worry.”
The Association further stated that: “Congress in session also raised the alarm over increasing rate of SGBV and tasked government at all levels to ensure that perpetrators of such heinous crimes were punished to serve as deterrent to others.
“We further noted that there was need for the Federal Government to intensify efforts at protecting lives and property in the country and particularly take proactive steps towards ensuring safe schools so as to curb kidnapping, SGBV and other social vices in schools system.”That FCT Police Command should speed up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 12-year-old Keren Akpaher in order to douse tension and clear existing controversies.”
The women journalists also raised concerns over the hike in prices of food items in the country and called for urgent intervention of the federal government to expedite actions towards amilorate the suffering of the people.
