BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – As the World celebrates the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has called for the accelerated action on the bill for the reservation of seats for Women in the Parliaments.
The ZLP which joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating the 2025 International Women’s Day with the theme; “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality, Empowerment,” urged Women to engage in active participation in politics in order to contribute to the development of the country.
The party also demanded an end to discrimination and violence against Women and Girls, stressing that the IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The ZLP further called for action in accelerating women’s rights, equality and empowerment, adding that the first International Women’s Day which started in 1911, has been sustained to forge gender parity, raise awareness about discrimination and violence against women and girls.
It therefore called for urgent need to empower them to maximise their potentials, thus contribute in nation building.
ZLP said; “This year’s International Women’s Day marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It is unfortunate that after 30 years of subscribing to the Beijing Declaration in 1995, governments at all levels in Nigeria are yet to allocate the basic 30% seats for women in elective and appointive positions.
“This has necessitated the ongoing bill in the National Assembly for the reservation of special seats for women in Parliaments,” it said.
The Zenith Labour Party urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the crucial bill and ensure its passage this year.
It said; “It will be a giant step forward in advancing women’s participation in politics”.
Mrs Chinyere Oge-Kalu, National Woman Leader, ZLP in a statement made available to Journalists on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Khalid Arewa, stated that it was time for action.
Oge-Kalu also said that it was time to empower women and girls, and end discrimination and violence against them, saying; “We are supporting the bill to reserve seats for women in Parliaments as being sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
“It is time to accelerate gender equality for all women and girls. It is time to run inclusive government and respect women’s rights. It is time to make Nigeria great again by involving more women in leadership,” she said.
