• Reps explain why women lost out on affirmative action
• Aisha Buhari urges reversal
• Group rejects N’Assembly’s position on gender bills
In another shake up within two weeks, the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), yesterday, removed the Acting Clerk of the Senate, Isabella Ugochi Iloba.
The shake up is contained in a statement signed by the Executive Chairman of NASC, Ahmed Kadi Amshi. Chinedu Akubueze, who is the Clerk of the House of Representatives, has been appointed to replace Iloba as substantive Clerk of the Senate.
The commission has also appointed Yahnya H. Danzariya as Acting Clerk of the House of Representatives just as it appointed Fatai 0. Jimoh as Acting Deputy Clerk, Legislative, in the House.
Kamoru Ogunlanna was appointed as Acting Secretary (Legal Services) in the National Assembly just as Bashir Aminu Yero was appointed as Acting Secretary in charge of Directorate of Estate and Works.
0n the other hand, Henrietta Aimua-Ehikioya has been redeployed as Secretary to the Directorate of Special Duties from Legal Services Directorate, while the former Secretary of Procurement, Estate and Works, Liman Baba Sanda, is now the Secretary of the newly-created Directorate of Procurement and Supplies.
ALSO, the House of Representatives yesterday offered an insight as to why women lost out on their quest to enshrine affirmative action in the 1999 Constitution (as amended.)
Spokesperson of the House, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, who addressed journalists at the National Assembly Complex Abuja, said that the decision was in tandem with the wishes of majority of Nigerians.
KALU, who absolved the lower legislative chamber of blame, claimed that women lobby groups did not do enough to sway the support of his colleagues to their sides on the issue.
HOWEVER, the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has urged the National Assembly to reverse its decision reject the bills.
Buhari’s wife, who described the development as a temporary setback, said the recent decision by the parliament to ignore the long-standing clamour for affirmative action for Nigerian women was contrary to the very high expectations of forward-looking Nigerian men and women.
MEANWHILE, a group, Standup for Women’s Society (SWS), has expressed disappointment and displeasure over the rejection of women-related bills by the National Assembly.
In a statement signed by its Founder and National President, Deborah Ijadele-Adetona, the group stated: “The National Assembly has chosen to deny Nigerian women basic human rights.”
She noted that the actions of the lawmakers undermine the importance and relevance of women’s contribution to governance of Nigeria.
