My Blog

Tag: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS

  • Reps query minister over N45m spent on new year party, others

    Reps query minister over N45m spent on new year party, others

    The House of Representatives has queried the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for spending unrelated expenditures, including N45m for a New Year party, N20m for sanitary pads, the News Agency of Nigeria reports on Wednesday.

    Others include N1.5m for vehicle fuel.

    NAN reports that Rep Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, led the interrogation of the minister, over the non-payment of N1.5bn to contractors despite the fund release in Abuja.

    She said that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry.

    The committee also investigated the alleged diversion of funds meant for contractor payments, following a petition from contractors.

    The committee also sought clarification on funds appropriated for the African First Lady’s mission and the whereabouts of the N1.5bn meant for contractor payments.

    The minister, however, denied the allegations of misappropriation, overspending, and non-payment to contractors.

    The procurement officer confirmed contractors’ claims, and the Director of Finance and Administration acknowledged only paying approved contracts.

    It would be recalled that the committee had at its last sitting summoned the minister to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the non-payment.

    The committee also ordered the stoppage of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs until the whereabouts of the money for the said contracts are determined.

  • BREAKING: Bill to create extra 74 seats for women in parliament passes second reading

    BREAKING: Bill to create extra 74 seats for women in parliament passes second reading

    The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the constitution to create extra legislative seats for women in the National and state assemblies.

    The bill, jointly sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, and 12 others, was debated on the floor, with several members vehemently opposing it.

    It proposes to creat one senatorial seat and one House seat in each state and the FCT.

    It seeks to amend Sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution to provide one special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the FCT, effective after the term of the current National Assembly and subject to review every 16 years.

    Additionally, the bill seeks to amend Section 91 of the document to provide three special seats reserved exclusively for women in the Houses of Assembly of each state of the federation, which shall be spread across the three senatorial districts of each state.

  • “You’re overstepping your bounds” – Imams warn Tinubu’s minister over stance on mass marriage

    “You’re overstepping your bounds” – Imams warn Tinubu’s minister over stance on mass marriage

    The Niger State Council of Imams has given the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, a one-week ultimatum to withdraw her comments condemning the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to sponsor the mass weddings of 100 girls of marriage age in his constituency, who are either orphans or their parents are too poor to fund their weddings.

    The Secretary of the Imam Council in the state, Umar Abdullahi, made this known at a press conference on Wednesday, where he warned the minister not to overstep her bounds.

    Abdullahi said the Niger Imam Council viewed the minister’s utterances as capable of causing a crisis in the state and the country in general.

    The minister had on Tuesday in Abuja condemned the planned mass weddings, saying it was a violation of the Child Rights Act.

    Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed that she had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to stop the weddings, adding that she had also filed a suit, seeking a restraining injunction against the Niger Speaker.

    Reacting, however, on Tuesday, the Niger Council of Imams warned the minister to steer clear of religious and cultural matters and face her ministerial assignment.

    The Imams insisted that no amount of court action would stop the wedding from taking place as planned for May 24.

    The council secretary said, “The planned weddings have the blessing of all the religious and traditional leaders from the area. The sponsor of the wedding consulted widely before accepting to take the responsibility and we are strongly behind him.

    “The girls are not underage and they are not being forced into the marriage as the minister has made the public to believe. This is what the minister failed to investigate.”

  • FG To Sue Niger Speaker Over Plans To Marry Off 100 Girls

    FG To Sue Niger Speaker Over Plans To Marry Off 100 Girls

    The Federal Government is set to take legal action against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, over his plans to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls.

    Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and filed for an injunction to halt the event scheduled for May 24. 

    The minister emphasized the need to prioritize the girls’ futures and announced plans for the ministry to take responsibility for their education and vocational training. 

    Sarkin-Daji’s proposal has sparked controversy, with critics arguing against the forced marriages, while the speaker maintained he is only funding the weddings. 

    The minister said:

    “I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government.

    “Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

    “These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered”.

  • Children’s Day Celebration: Photo News

    Students of Britarch Schools, during a match pass at the 2023 National Children’s Day celebration at Old Parade Ground in Abuja on Saturday.
    The Speaker, 7th assembly, National Children’s Parliament, Progress Umoh; the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and Deputy Speaker of the National Children’s parliament, Ibrahim Sunomi, during the 2023 National Children’s Day celebration at Old Parade Ground in Abuja on Saturday.
    Representatives of the Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat (M) with outstanding students in Lagos State in 2023, during the Children Day Celebration at Police College Ikeja in Lagos on Saturday.
    Students of Queens College performing, during the 2023 Children Day celebration at Police College Ikeja in Lagos on Saturday.
    President Queens Enugu Old Girls Association (QEOGA), Lady Maureen Atuonwu (4th L sitting) with some executive members of QEOGA and Students of Queens Secondary school Enugu, during menstrual hygiene lecture and presentation of menstrual pads to students to celebrate World Menstrual Hygiene Day and Children’s Day hosted by QEOGA in Enugu on Saturday.
    President of Queens Enugu Old Girls Association (QEOGA), Mrs Maureen Atuonwu (L), addressing students of Queens Secondary school, during Children’s Day celebration organised by QEOGA in Enugu on Saturday.
    The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen (L), with former FCT APC Senatorial Aspirant, Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, during the 2023 National Children’s Day celebration at Old Parade Ground in Abuja on Saturday.