The Oyo State House of Assembly at its Plenary Sitting on Wednesday admonished the State Government to come up with a policy framework for the adoption and implementation of the National Action Plan on Women ,Peace and Security in the Pace Setter State in order to pave way for the accessibility of grants and other programmes for the development of Women empowerment and Gender equality.
The urge was made following a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North 1, State Constituency, Hon. Comforter Olajide, and Co- sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin who represents Ibarapa North, Hon. Olabisi Michael ( Ogbomosho North) , Akintunde Olajide ( Lagelu) and Rilwan Saminu ( Saki East / Atisbo ) State constituencies.
Presenting the motion on the need for urgent adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution ( UNSCR) 1325 and National Action Plans ( NAPs ) by Oyo State to develop the State Action Plan ( SAP ) on Women, Peace and Security (WAP ) , Hon. Comforter said all hands must be on deck in ensuring total adoption of the Plan for the benefits of the state women on right, well – being, and Gender equality.
She explained further that the excessiveness of violence against women were among the reasons that made the United Nations Security Council adopt the Resolution in the year 2000, and outlined a comprehensive profile and strategic mechanism for the protection, promotion and participation of women in peace processes.
Hon. Comforter declared that the first National Action Plan ( NAP ) on UNSCR was deployed in August, 2013 with sixteen States of the federation, equally domesticated the NAP by developing their State Action Plans ( SAPs).
” The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development developed Nigeria’s first National Action Plan ( NAP ) on UNSCR 1325. Since then, and in pursuit of the same objectives, 16 States of the federation such as Bayelsa, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, plateau, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa,Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa , Kwara , and Ekiti have equally domesticated the NAP by developing their State Action Plan.”
“State Action Plans are State – specific versions of the National Action Plan, tailored to address the particular needs and challenges of each State for Women, Peace and Security ( WPS ).”
She however called on the State Government to follow suit and bring Oyo State to the limelight of benefiting from United Nations, Development Partners, and other stakeholders commitment to support women’s participation in peace and security and other provisions of the United Nations Security Council Resolution.
” there is a dire need to ensure that Oyo State benefit from numerous grants and programs associated with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda” She added .
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin who presided over the plenary, commended the effort of Hon. Comforter for bringing such a sensitive and Gender based motion to the floor of the House, described the moves as a laudable one as the State Government will have nothing to lose in adopting the plan.
