Aisha, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, toured the two chambers of the National Assembly on Wednesday to register her support for women’s rights in the ongoing Constitution review.

At the Senate, Mrs Buhari witnessed the laying of the report of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

She was accompanied by the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and a delegation of Nigerian women.

Senate President  Ahmad Lawan, immediately after referring a bill for an Act to Amend the Federal High Court Act Cap F134 to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, suspended Rule 12(1), Privileges of the Floor and invoked Rule 1(b) to admit the First Lady and her delegation into the chamber.

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta ), Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Alteration to the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, laid the report.

Mr Lawan, in a short remark after the report was laid, said the visit by Mrs Buhari was to show support for a bill to have more female parliamentarians at the federal and state legislatures.

He said: “The First Lady’s visit is to show support for a bill for more female parliamentarians in both chambers in the Senate and the House and the State Legislatures.

“This, we believe, will help in nation building as such significant participation by our women will add value to not only legislation but the much desired and needed national development.

“For us as a nation, our motto is Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. We believe that all hands must be on deck to ensure the participation of each and every segment of our society.”

The Senate President, assured Mrs Buhari that the Ninth Assembly, while voting on the amendments to the constitution as contained in the ad-hoc committee’s report, would ensure that women participation in governance is commensurate with their population.

At the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House, announced Mrs Buhari’s arrival and the need to admit her to the chamber.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said  that the wife of the president was in the chamber to show support for the women in the amendment to the constitution.

He said that she had come to basically lend her support for the women.

Mr Gbajabiamila  added that the lawmakers were not unmindful of the weight of her office to promote the welfare of women.

Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority leader of the House, said that the presence of the first lady would influence a lot of things in favour of the women.

(NAN)