President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will continue
to guarantee the economic rights of women in the country.
He made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
On January, Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed her dissatisfaction at the
fact that the Ministry for Women Affairs has the least allocation with no
provision for Women Development Projects, Maternal Health, etc.
She then stated that that women are Internally Displaced Persons were only
used for elections and now they have been abandoned, noting that, the
change that was expected is not the change that is being experienced now.
Adesina said Buhari made the remark at the 26th Ordinary Session of the
Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Saturday
night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He added that the President had assured increased budgetary allocation to
projects specifically targeted at improving the lives of women.
According to him, the Federal Government under his watch has demonstrated
its commitment to the rights of women by appointing women of proven
integrity to key positions within the cabinet.
“We have increased the budgetary allocation of ministries that have direct
bearing on the lives of women, particularly health and education, with
greater emphasis on girl-child education.
“As you all know, the terrible activities of the Boko Haram sect led to
destruction of thousands of lives and property in the North Eastern part
of Nigeria, displacing millions from their respective homes, most of who
are women and children and are now at various IDP camps across the
country.
“In order to fully restore and protect their rights, government is in the
process of massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of the
affected victims in the North Eastern part of the country with the
ultimate goal of restoring normalcy in full to that region, as well as
improving the wellbeing of the affected persons.”
President Buhari welcomed the AU decision to declare the year 2016 as “The
Year of Human Rights in Africa with Special focus on the Rights of Women”.
He said Nigeria had amply demonstrated its commitment to issues relating
to rights of women by upholding several human rights treaties and
conventions specifically targeted at women.
“In guaranteeing the economic rights of women, the Federal Government of
Nigeria is embarking on massive employment programmes that will promote
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), in order to provide succour to
our teeming women and youth populations,” he said.
The President also used the occasion of his address to the AU summit to
congratulate President Idris Deby of Chad on his election and assumption
of office as Chairperson of the Union for 2016.
According to President Buhari, Deby’s appointment is a clear attestation
of the confidence reposed in him to steer the ship of the continental
organisation.