… As NACTAL hails FG’s approval of national plan on human trafficking***

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for policy and social reforms that put gender equality and sustainability at the centre of governance, politics, and international affairs.

Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, President, LCCI, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebrated annually on March 8 with this year’s theme as #Breakthebias.

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Olawale-Cole emphasised the need for women to be given equal access to resources for them to add more value to society.

He noted that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) revealed that providing women farmers equal access to productive resources led to farm yield increase of 20 to 30 per cent.

This, the LCCI President noted this could provide enough food to keep 100 to 150 million people from hunger, thereby reducing global hunger by 17 per cent.

Olawale-Cole added that at all levels of government, women’s representation and leadership appeared to drive better performance and was more sensitive to environmental outcomes.

He posited that at the local level, women’s participation in managing natural resources had led to more equitable and inclusive resource management and better conservation outcomes in Nigeria.

He said in the public service, women had proved to be less corrupt than their men folks who had been in the news for the wrong reasons.

“The LCCI, a gender-sensitive organisation is pleased to congratulate women all over the world on this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations today.

“This year’s theme is all about recognising and amplifying the important role women and girls around the world play in addressing climate change for a more sustainable future.

“In line with global trend, Nigerian women constitute nearly half of the population of the country but the major roles they play with their population size, women roles in the society are yet to be given the recognition they deserve.

“This is due to some cultural stereotypes, abuse of religion, traditional practices, and patriarchal societal structures.

“Nigeria, being a signatory to many international treaties that support women in politics like the 35 per cent affirmative action, should enact more local laws that support more women participation according to international provisions,” he said.

Addressing Nigerias’ political terrain, the LCCI President noted that about 51 per cent of women were involved in voting during elections.

In spite of this, Olawale-Cole said women were still under-represented in both elective and appointive positions.

He expressed sadness over the rejection of the “Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly.”

He urged the National Assembly to reconsider the rejected bills for a possible review and acceptance for inclusive governance.

“We urge the government to leverage this Bill to deliberately work toward the inclusion of women in governance as this would give Nigeria international recognition and relevance.

“Political parties should also be sensitive to the provisions of this Bill towards ensuring that deliberate steps are taken to include more women in the running of the parties and offer elective opportunities to women,” he said.

In the meantime, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) has expressed happiness over the recent approval of the National Plan of Action on Human Trafficking in Nigeria.

A statement signed by NACTAL National Secretary, Mr Ositadimma Osemene, in Abuja on Monday said the expression manifested at the end of a three-day retreat for members on Friday in Keffi.

The statement quoted NACTAL President, Abdulganiyu Abubakar, as saying that the action of the Federal Government was a glimpse of light in the tunnel and a sign of hope in the Counter-Trafficking efforts in Nigeria.

Abubakar said that NACTAL had been actively involved in the development of the document in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) and other Stakeholders.

He said that the approval of the document would further enhance the country’s stance at the regional and global levels on human trafficking issues.

“No doubt, the Federal Government of Nigeria has shown its commitment to tackle issues of Human Trafficking in the country.

”Also the Federal Executive Council, presided by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Feb. 23 approved the  2022 – 2026 Counter-Trafficking Tool.

“With this, more cooperation and collaboration among the Non-State Actors, National and International  Organisations will be robustly defined,’’ he said.

Abubakar disclosed that the recently concluded NACTAL retreat 2022 brought together the National Executive Committee, 37 State Coordinators, Members of the Board of Trustees as well as Technical Staff of the National Secretariat.

According to him,  NACTAL equally used the opportunity to further align her 2022 annual plan of action and strategic plan with the approved national action plan of the parent body, NAPTIP.

He said  NACTAL was also aware that the national action plan was also designed to foster collaboration among stakeholders.

”This is for greater effectiveness and efficacy in the fight against human trafficking and to set benchmarks for stakeholders implementation and evaluation plan,” Abubakar said.