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House Passes Resolution to Commemorate Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women

House Passes Resolution to Commemorate Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women
The House of Representatives has demonstrated its support to discourage all forms of violence against women by passing a resolution pledging its determination to continue to legislate against all sorts of violence against women. This came on the heels of a motion calling for the House to join the rest of the world in observing the day, moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Stella Oduh.

She sought the leave of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara during Wednesday's plenary, to inform the House that November 25, is the day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate elimination of violence against women. She implored her colleagues to unanimously support the prayers of her motion that called for a public complaint desk to be created in the Local Government Councils across the country, to entertain and respond to cases of violence against women in Nigeria.

The Speaker averred that it is reasonable to support the elimination of all forms of abuse against women, adding that the Committee on legislative Compliance should ensure that the prayers of the motion are being adhered to. The question was put on the motion and got support of the Members.

Another matter that was brought to the fore under matters of urgent public attention, was a motion calling for investigation of the status of personnel strength of the Nigeria Police Force. The call came at the instance of a motion that was moved by Hon. Ahmed Yerima, who exposed that about 90,000 policemen have lost their lives since the inception of insurgency in Nigeria. He appealed that given the shortfall in the personnel size of the Nigeria Police, there is need to increase the number of the projected 10,000 men, which was recently approved by President Muhammed Buhari to be recruited into the Force.

He decried the disrespectful and depressive conditions which the police officers are often subjected to, stressing that protection of lives and properties remain the primary responsibility of government. He made case for families of the deceased with regards to compensation, and called for improved welfare for those still in active service. Other members added their voice to call for adequate attention and recruitment of more policemen to replace those that died in service.

Meanwhile, the House has urged the Federal Government to invest more in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) so as to improve efficiency of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). The resolution also urged the Comptroller-General of Customs to deploy more personnel to the borders in order to curtail activities of smugglers; adding that the Customs Service should shun the practice of mounting road blocks in search of goods that already made their way into the country.

This resolution came on the heels of a motion lamenting low service delivery and exploitation of the masses by the Customs Service, moved by Hon. Olatoye Temitope Sugar. He tasked the Customs on boosting the capacity of its personnel through continuous training and development program , particularly in border control techniques, reiterating that the agency should be more proactive and ensure that banned goods are intercepted at the borders.

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