By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
A member of Kaduna state House of Assembly, representing Kagarko Constituency, Hon Nuhu Goroh Shadalafi ya, has promised to sponsor a bill before the House that will give equal opportunities to all genders. Th e lawmaker, who stated this when he received members of Affi rmative Active Initiative for Women, in Kagarko Local Government Area yesterday, said once he receives the permission from the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, he will formerly present the bill before the House. He explains that the goal of the Gender Equity Bill is to provide a legislation that seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex and gender in private and public spaces, affi rms the rights of women and men to equity and equal opportunities to the resources and opportunities in Kaduna state so they can realize their full potentials. Th e legislator notes that the bill is not women’s bill, but for men and women, as it seeks to provide protection for the human dignity of all persons. He added that the bill will also established a State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission which shall have and exercise the powers conferred on it by the bill. “
Th e commission shall investigate and make application to the appropriate court or tribunal for an order of assessment of practices of any person, organ, body, institution, private or public organ in accordance with the bill. Liaise with the National Human Rights Commission and other such bodies relating to enforcement of fundamental rights. “Prepare and submit periodic reports on the state of implementation of the law to the state government and other appropriate bodies. Perform such other functions and activities as may be specifi ed by any law or enactment,” he said. Kaduna State Coordinator of NCAA, Ms. Ngukwase Surma, said the Affi rmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA) formerly known as National Coalition on Affi rmative Action (NCAA) is an umbrella organization of women’s rights nongovernmental groups whose mission is to promote affi rmative action for increased participation of women in public life in Nigeria as well as domesticate international human rights instruments that promote women’s rights. She said that NCAA came into being on 23rd of September, 2003 at the end of a 2-day International Public Hearing on Affi rmative Action for Increasing Women’s Political participation in Nigeria.
