By Mercy Aikoye
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has tasked the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) with mobilizing support for gender-based bills in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution at the National Assembly. The Speaker made the call at his office in Abuja on Tuesday when the leaderships of FOMWAN and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) from the northern states paid by him a courtesy visit.
The Speaker expressed the commitment of the 10th House to empowering women and ensuring their inclusion in politics and governance at all levels. “We have a constitutional amendment coming up, and it is meant for women, and we in the House are passionate about it,” he said. “We believe that FOMWAN may also play a role for women inclusion. We want to see more women in governance and representation, either at the local government, state or federal level.”
The Speaker urged FOMWAN to attend the zonal public hearing on the constitution review and actively participate to support the initiative. “This is an opportunity we have in our lifetime, to make women count in this country. Please support us. We will be going around the states later to solicit more support and cooperation. Please, FOMWAN should be at the centre of this initiative,” he emphasized.
The Speaker congratulated FOMWAN for celebrating 40 years of its existence, saying the history and achievements of the forum are commendable. He urged the women group to continue giving its best to society, especially Muslims. “We will support you in every way we can,” he assured the society of the support of Muslims in the House.
The Director-General, Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith, Barrister Tahir Umar Tahir, commended Speaker Abbas for his leadership style. “So many people want to associate with you,” he said. The Amirah, Kaduna State chapter of FOMWAN, Hajia Nafisah Musa Isah, congratulated the Speaker for successful two years in office, which she said has been characterized by great achievements for the benefit of all.
The FOMWAN Amirah called for more legislation that uplifts the life of Nigerians, particularly women and children, while seeking the House’s support in championing social justice. Shebu Usman Abubakar of the MSSN disclosed that many of the youth who got jobs through Speaker Abbas are members of the society. Abubakar said the MSSN is ready to support the Speaker on his aspirations.
The Speaker assured the MSSN of his support, saying, “We will support you in every way we can.” The visit was a courtesy call to congratulate the Speaker on his achievements and to seek his support for their initiatives. The Speaker’s office has been working tirelessly to promote women’s empowerment and inclusion in governance.
The Speaker’s commitment to empowering women and promoting their inclusion in governance is evident in his efforts to mobilize support for the gender-based bills in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution. With the support of FOMWAN and other stakeholders, the House of Representatives is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of women and children in Nigeria.
