Bill for violence against women passes third reading in Oyo Aasembly

Hon Wumi Oladeji

A  bill  for  a law on violence against women right  passes  third reading at the Oyo state House of Assembly.

The bill which sought to prevent and prohibit all form of harassment and violation of women’s right carries various degree of penalty including option of fine, life imprisonments and categories of jail terms

Presenting the report to the house at the plenary, Hon Olawumi Bimbo Oladeji, Ogbomoso North, Chairperson House Committee on Women affairs said the bill was properly scrutinized and amended by the house before it was passed

 According to her the gender sensitive bill is for a law that guarantee safety and decent life  for both men and women in the society  as  it takes care of all forms of violation of right, harassment  indecent dressings  and others

"Women should not abuse the privilege by using the opportunity to step on men’s toes but live with their male counterpart with all sense of decency and humility "

 “ No religion, even our culture and tradition permit  men using their wives punch bag unholy treatment or sexual harassment as we have nowadays and the essence of this bill is to ensure a descent society”

 She said further that the passage of the bill into law will also afford the state an opportunity to access loan from the United Nations which will be useful in fighting for right of women and children in the society.

Hon Oladeji also assured that the committee will collaborate with the  Ministry of women affairs, information culture and tourism, education,  National Orientiation Agency NOA and other stakeholders in sensitizing the public about the content of the law.

In his address, the speaker of the house of Assembly Hon Michael Adeyemo said the passage of the bill for third reading is a great achievement for the house “ the bill suffered setback at the seventh Assembly even when we have  a female as the speaker of the House of Assembly.