Reps to help in fight against gender-based violence

Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has said the House will make provision in the 2021 budget to fund the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country.

He said the budget will be presented to the National Assembly in September.

The Speaker noted that apart from budget funds, the House would also provide necessary support as well as partner relevant stakeholders for the fight against GBV to succeed.

Gbajabiamila stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while responding to a request by the Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria, Ulla Elisabeth Mueller, who led a delegation of United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) Spotlight Initiative during a visit.

He said the issue of gender-based violence in the country had become disturbing, hence the need for all stakeholders to fight it.

Gbajabiamila assured the delegation that the House would work on the Sexual Harassment Bill forwarded to it by the Senate as soon as members return from their annual recess.

He said: “You talked about the Sexual Harassment Bill. Though we’re going on a long vacation, I can assure you that as soon as we come back, the House will work on the Bill.

Gbajabiamila stressed that after due diligence, the House will “speedily concur with the Senate”.

Read Also: Gbajabiamila seeks stiffer penalty against rapists

“On the issue of funding, like I said, it’s like a pandemic. There’s no way you can confront a pandemic without funding. The budget is coming in September. Once it comes, we’ll make sure adequate funding is provided for this issue.

“On the issue of domestication of the VAPP 2015 and the Child’s Rights Act, my office has done a lot. We had a conference with the Speakers of the State Assemblies. The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers promised that they would domesticate it in Bauchi, and I’m glad to say that it has been done.”

“We’ll continue to engage with others to see that they domesticate the laws. This is something we’re championing, and we’ll continue to do that. For us in the House of Representatives, we’re giving this issue all the seriousness it deserves.”

Gbajabiamila said the issue of gender is prominently featured in the Legislative Agenda of the House, a new version of which would be launched on Saturday.

The Speaker hailed members of the delegation for the work they were doing, saying he hoped there would be a sustained partnership between them and the House to end gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Mueller said everybody has the responsibility to fight gender-based violence in any part of Nigeria and work towards ending it.

She said they would advocate for a budget line to be committed to the fight against gender-based violence, noting that the House should also ensure that the funds are released accordingly when appropriated.

As part of their work, she said they were working on a concept to organise engagements with different stakeholders including Speakers of State Assemblies.

While commending the Senate for passing the Sexual Harassment Bill, she called on the House to concur so that it will be assented to by the president.