The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and some women groups have demanded the passage of all labour and women related provisions in the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, made the demand, during a protest at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday.
They were chanting solidarity songs and carrying various placards bearing inscriptions of demands from the Federal Lawmakers, as they began voting on the 5th Alteration Bill of the Constitutional Amendment process.
Their demands included, that the National Assembly should accede to all women related provisions, autonomy for local governments, state assemblies, judiciary and retaining labour in the exclusive legislative list.
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A delegation from the National Assembly led by the Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to their demands.
For Doguwa, the demands have been properly captured in the document, and therefore, promised to ensure that efforts are directed by the lawmakers, toward a smooth sail of all the contentious issues.
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress promised to get back at the lawmakers with workers’ votes if they fail to vote favourably on labour and women related issues.
It is hoped that at the end of the voting process in the national and states assemblies Nigerians will have a truly Federal Constitution, that represents the interests of all her people.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
