WOMEN GROUPS STORM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GATE IN PROTEST OF A FAILED BILL

Various women groups have occupied the gate of the National Assembly in protest, demanding that the Federal lawmakers take another look at the requests for 111 seats for women, citizenship, 35% representation in party leadership, more appointive positions in government, and vote in favour of these amendments.
The women gathered early this morning at the three arm zone and marched to the National Assembly gate chanting songs of solidarity.

The protest comes less than 24 hours after lawmakers voted against a bill seeking to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The bill was defeated in the Senate with 58 votes out of 91, while in the House of Representatives 208 out of 290 lawmakers voted against it.

The groups gathered for the protest include the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWA), Women Organisation for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), Women In Business (WIMBIZ), Action Aid, Yiaga Africa, the Islamic Youth League, among others.