NGO faults call for rejection of gender bill by N’Assembly

A non- government organisation (NGO) championing the passage of the Gender and Equality bill (GEO bill), National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA), yesterday faulted the call by the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FASCH) on the National Assembly to disregard the bill.

FASCH had recently made the call during a press conference where it contended that the document contravened extant laws.

NCAA, however, dispelled the notion that the legislation was antithetical to religious and traditional injunctions.

Making clarifications on the bill which was recently shot down by the Senate, the group said the bill instead aims at correcting cultures and traditions that subjugate women, including indignity, oppressive and inhuman widowhood among others.

It’s National Coordinator, Mrs. Oby Nwankwo in a statement yesterday in Enugu, said those opposed to the passage of the bill did not take the time to read the content of the document.

“In the first place the bill does not have any section legalising abortion. Secondly, they were not able to cite sections of the Criminal Code, Marriage Act, Maintenance Act of the Constitution or any other law which have taken care of the issues covered in the bill.”