The Senate has urged the Federal Government to put in more efforts aimed at rescuing the over 200 girls abducted from Chibok in 2014.
The appeal followed a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central).
The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue other girls, who have suffered same fate as the Chibok girls in recent times.
It urged the government to take steps to secure schools for the safety of students across the country, particularly the female students.
The senate said government should come up with micro economic policies that would encourage women to participate in small-scale businesses.
Tinubu, in her lead debate, decried the growing gender inequality in the country in spite of several gender friendly laws.
The motion was informed by the need to remind government of its obligations, especially to women and the girl-child to mark the International Women’s Day.
The Lagos lawmaker lamented that Nigerian women had suffered several forms of discrimination ranging from abduction, rape to male dominance on inheritance.
Tinubu said: “I am concerned that rape is on the increase in the country and this is with little prosecution.
“There is, therefore, a need for re-orientation, on gender equality, women’s rights and adequate allocation of resources.’’
Senators, who contributed to the motion, felicitated women and called for policies and laws that would increase women participation in governance.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed concern that in spite of the growing level of democracy in the country, the representation of women in all arms of government was dwindling.
Ekweremadu noted that if not promptly attended to, the trend would lead to non-representation of women in governance.
He added that such development would be detrimental to the development of the country.
“This is an important day considering the important role of women in national development.
“When God created man, he discovered that there was a gap and he went ahead to create women and they have been of immense help to men since then,’’ Ekweremadu said.
Deputy Minority Whip Senator Biodun Olujinmi called for solution to child marriage and other practices that are detrimental to the survival of the girl-child in the society.
She insisted that the issues plaguing women should be placed in proper perspective so that the country would reap the benefits of having the girl-child.
She said: “I support Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s call for allocation of certain number of positions to women to increase their participation in governance.’’
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki assured that the 8th Senate would ensure the amendment of relevant laws to involve more women in government.
He said the legislature would not hesitate to ensure that the poor representation of women became a thing of the past.