News
Speaker Abbas Pledges Stronger Legislation to Protect Women in Politics
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to enact strong legislative measures that will safeguard and empower women in politics.
Speaking at the Nigerian Women Leadership and Empowerment Conference 2025 in Abuja, with the theme: “Investing in Nigerian Women, Securing Our Future,” organised by the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development,
Speaker Abbas emphasised the need for gender-inclusive governance and policies that promote equal representation in political and economic spheres.
The conference provided a platform to discuss challenges and solutions regarding women’s participation in leadership.
Despite constitutional guarantees of gender equality, Abbas noted that Nigerian women still face discrimination, underrepresentation, and socio-economic barriers that hinder their leadership opportunities.
“We will enact robust legislation to protect women in politics from violence and intimidation, ensuring that our political system aligns with constitutional principles of fairness and freedom,” he stated.
He revealed that the House of Representatives has introduced a Legislative Agenda prioritizing women’s political participation and economic empowerment.
“As part of this effort, two committees dedicated to women’s issues have been established, and all female lawmakers in the House are part of the Constitution Amendment Committee to ensure gender-sensitive policymaking”, he added.
The Speaker also urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to integrate women into its National Executive Committee (NEC), a move that has already resulted in the appointment of four women to NEC positions.
Abbas further stressed the need for special legislative seats for women and mandatory gender quotas in political parties to increase female representation in governance.
“I urge all State Houses of Assembly to support these reforms in the Constitution Amendment process to guarantee greater political participation for women,” he added.
Beyond politics, the Speaker highlighted that women’s economic empowerment is vital for Nigeria’s development, referencing successful global models, such as Rwanda’s gender quotas and Bangladesh’s microfinance initiatives, as strategies Nigeria can adapt to uplift women.
He reiterated the commitment of the House to enforcing the National Gender Policy, supporting electoral reforms that promote female candidates, and amending the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) to strengthen women’s rights.
Abbas commended Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara and Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, for their roles in advancing gender equality.
Representative of the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the event, Hajiya Fatima Abbas applauded Nigerian women for breaking barriers across various sectors. However, she emphasized the need for greater inclusion and empowerment, urging action to dismantle structural barriers that keep women in poverty.
In her opening remarks, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, described the conference as more than just an event but a movement aimed at breaking barriers and creating opportunities for future generations of women.
She noted that the conference serves as a platform to celebrate Nigerian women’s strength, resilience, and potential while fostering an environment where they can thrive, lead, and inspire.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the National Compendium of Women in Leadership Positions, a publication documenting the achievements of trailblazing Nigerian women across various sectors.
Rep. Ogbara emphasized that while the National Compendium of Women in Leadership Positions is in its maiden edition, it serves as an essential resource to inspire young girls and women striving for leadership roles.
She announced that the conference would honor outstanding Nigerians who have shown unwavering dedication to empowering women and promoting gender equality. Their contributions, she said, stand as a beacon of hope and proof that meaningful change is achievable through collective effort.
Among the award recipients were First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike.
Beyond discussions, Ogbara revealed that the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development is implementing direct support programs for women in need, particularly widows and low-income earners, through cash empowerment initiatives.
She expressed gratitude to the leadership of the House of Representatives for their commitment to gender equality, acknowledging Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for sponsoring a bill aimed at reserving special seats for women in parliament to ensure greater representation in legislative bodies.
Ogbara also commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her leadership in advancing women’s welfare through the Renewed Hope Initiative, describing it as a transformative program that has positively impacted countless Nigerian women.
The conference gathered policymakers, civil society groups, and development partners to strategize on enhancing women’s leadership and increasing their participation in national development.
News
Fuel, diesel prices will drop in Nigeria as crude oil slumps
Domestic prices of petrol and diesel are expected to decline following a sharp drop in global crude oil prices triggered by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
As of Saturday morning, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude fell by 11 percent and 9 percent to $83.85 and $90.38 per barrel, respectively, down from about $100 per barrel.
The decline comes after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully reopened for vessel passage.
The development has begun to reflect in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, where depot marketers have slightly reduced fuel prices.
Petrol prices at depots now range between N1,205 and N1,206 per litre— about N5 to N6 higher than the Dangote Refinery price of N1,200 per litre.
This pricing trend was observed among marketers such as Aiteo, Bono, and NIPCO.
Meanwhile, diesel prices at depots in Lagos, including Menj and Duport, stood at N1,775 per liter.
Market observers say the drop in crude oil prices has triggered panic selling among depot marketers.
Despite this, retail pump prices have remained unchanged as of filing this report, with petrol selling between N1,290 and N1,333 per litre, while diesel ranges from N1,850 to N1,900 per litre.
The President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed the development, noting that further reductions are likely if the downward trend in crude prices persists.
“We expect fuel prices to drop in the coming days if crude oil prices continue to decline.
Daily Post
News
Wife demands divorce from husband for being poor
An Area Court at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the Islamic marriage between a couple, Toyin Ajibola and Bashirat Mohammed on grounds of lack of money.
The presiding judge, Hammad Ajumonbi, while delivering ruling said that even though Toyin did not want to divorce his wife, she still had the needed to move on not be left stranded.
He, dissolved their marriage and granted custody of the three children from their union to the wife.
The court also ordered the woman to observe the three months iddah (waiting) period before remarrying.
Ajumonbi ordered Toyin to be responsible for the feeding of their children.
“The defendant should have unrestricted access to their children, while the plaintiff should always make their children available any time the defendant requested to see them,” the judge said.
Earlier, Bashirat had applied for divorce saying that she was tired of her marriage to her husband due to paucity of fund and her husband’s irresponsibility.
“I want the court to grant me divorce so that I can have rest of mind,” she said.
The husband, however, told the court that he was still interested in his wife even though he was financially handicapped.
“I have been trying hard to get money to feed my family, but couldn’t.
“It is so painful that I can’t get money to visit her and the children when they left home,” he said.
News
Angry Ex-Senate president, Saraki slams Kwara gov, says “you never completed secondary sch education”
Ex-Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described as a “desperate ploy by a drowning politician” the move by Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to initiate a case of criminal culpability against him over the Offa robbery incident of 2018 “which I know nothing about”.
While describing the criminal case as “dirty politics taken too far and too low”, Saraki warned Abdulrazaq to desist from this despicable act of using the Offa robbery incident as a weapon anytime he came under political pressure over his poor policy conception and failure to live up to expectations as a governor of a state known as the State of Harmony.
Ordinarily, my attitude to this insidious move by the incumbent Governor of Kwara State to initiate a case of criminal liability against me in the unfortunate incident of armed robbery which happened in Offa community eight years ago should be to shrug it off and say that we will meet in court since I know I have nothing to do with the incident or any other crime for that matter.
“However, I have been inundated with calls from many well-meaning Nigerians who were surprised by this turn of events. Thus, for the benefit of the general public, let me categorically state that I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever. The Offa robbery incident was designed under the Buhari administration with the connivance of some individuals from Kwara State as an instrument of blackmail to seize political power from our group in 2019.
“The case was investigated by the police team from the office of the Inspector General of Police. However, following the investigation, in two separate legal advices dated June 22nd, 2018, and August 23rd, 2018, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) stated that there was no evidence directly or indirectly linking me to the robbery incident.
“ The DPP in his first legal advice stated that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects”.
In a second report, the DPP stated that “With regards to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since there is no departure from the earlier findings in the interim report, this office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him for any offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide”.
Based on the DPP’s advice, four suspects were charged in court by the Kwara State Government. They were convicted at the trial court and the conviction was upheld by the appellate court. The matter is now before the Supreme Court.
Suddenly, the governor woke up after I granted my interview to Channels TV where I commented on the insecurity in the state and thought he could resurrect these baseless charges against his two predecessors. I noticed that in his propaganda plan to circulate his frivolous charges and other skewed documents as paid advertisements in the national newspapers, even before serving the defendants, he intentionally hid the DPP reports and other documents which put a lie to the charade he is perpetuating. These are deliberate efforts to mislead the media and induce them to give purchased publicity to the frame-up.
“Therefore, I am under no illusion that this case was a frivolous move and an abuse of court process to embarrass my person. My legal team will definitely meet this governor in court. I believe that Abdulrahman just feels that he could still use this case to harass and defame my person by abusing the judicial process. He had tried to induce the families of the victims to initiate civil litigations against the other respondents and me, but he seemed not to be making progress with that mischievous effort because the families backed out.
“I need to remind him that this vicious attack on my reputation because he enjoys the immunity of a governor is a huge joke on him. A sitting governor who is accusing his two immediate predecessors of armed robbery is only making a mockery of the institution. He is only taking the governorship of our dear state to the gutter.
This is an example of dirty politics taken too far and too low. He ought to know that nobody at the national or state level is buying his claim. He is the butt of a crude joke. Many of those involved in the plot to blackmail me with the Offa robbery case have since faced judgements of the law of karma. I do not doubt that this governor will end up the same way.
“One would have thought that a governor whose state has lost over 400 lives to banditry between January 2025 and March 2026, with over 100 others kidnapped in the worst cases of insecurity since its creation, would concentrate efforts and focus attention on taming the menace by getting the bandits arrested to face justice. No. He is fixated on filing frivolous and politically motivated charges against his predecessors.
This shows the dark mindset of the man who is the governor of Kwara State today. A man who emphasises dirty politics over development and security of life and properties of the citizenry. He started working on this plot immediately after my interview on Channels TV where I flayed his lack of capacity in tackling the security crisis in the state. He thought this case would erase his record as the governor with the worst cases of insecurity under his watch in the state’s history. It is an unenviable record he has sustained by his lack of capacity and ability to tackle serious issues of the state.
“This is a mere act of a desperate politician who is losing control in his party and knows that his days in governance are numbered.
It is the reason Nigerians should always take into consideration the level of education of those we elect into office. For a man who never completed secondary school education, it is difficult for him to appreciate the issues involved in any matter. His level of education is definitely affecting his judgement.
-
News20 hours agoKwankwaso has decided to be Obi’s running mate-Ibrahim Abdulkarim reveals
-
Politics6 hours ago2027: Why Tinubu should be afraid — ADC
-
Sports20 hours ago“Any attempt to lose to Arsenal, ends Mancity’s dream of title race”-Guardiola
-
News19 hours agoJust in: Tinubu assents 2026 Appropriation Bill, 2025 Budget Extension
-
Education20 hours agoBREAKING: JAMB set to release first batch of 2026 UTME results today
-
News20 hours agoBREAKING: Popular sports analystt, Okomi is dead
-
Economy6 hours agoMonetary Shake-Up! CBN Unveils New Interest Rate Benchmark
-
News6 hours agoCourt Fixes Ruling Date In High-Profile Godwin Emefiele Trial

You must be logged in to post a comment Login