Linda Ikpeazu, a lawmaker representing Nigeria at the ECOWAS Parliament, has said that the five gender equity bills that were initially discarded by the Nigerian National Assembly will be reconsidered for action.

”It will be reopened and hopefully passed into law,” she said on Wednesday while responding to criticisms by some members of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Some members of the ECOWAS Parliament had slammed the Nigerian National Assembly for throwing out the gender equity bills that were brought before the House.

Ms Ikpeazu, while reading Nigeria’s country report, said that despite the five gender bills that were thrown out, Nigeria remained resolute to enacting equitable laws that would address gender inequity.

She, however, noted that more sensitisation would be carried out for members of the National Assembly to understand the bill better.

Ms Ikpeazu stated that the leadership was working towards ensuring that the bills were re-presented to the house and passed.

“We have learnt our lessons and with the support of the leadership, there will be a difference,” Ms Ikpeazu said.

The parliamentarians, who slammed Nigeria for discarding the gender bills, said they had expected more from Nigeria in setting the pace to meet the 35 per cent affirmation of women inclusion and gender equity.

Veronica Sessay, a member of parliament from Sierra Leone, said that Nigeria as the “Big Brother” of Africa should set a pace for other countries to follow as they expected a positive outcome once the bills were reconsidered.

Similarly, Kibba Barrow from the Gambia urged all member countries to ensure passage of gender bills that would guarantee women’s rights and gender issues.

“The issue of the bills that were thrown out of the Nigerian National Assembly, I am surprised that these important bills were being thrown out and are coming again to be reviewed.

“I think these are bills that are important to look at the issues of gender in our various countries and the sub-region.”

On March 1, the National Assembly rejected a constitutional bill seeking to create more inclusion of women in political and appointive positions and other gender equity issues.

(NAN)