The Minister of Women Affairs Mrs Pauline Tallen has informed the members of Bauchi State House of Assembly that the Assembly has gladdened the heart of President Muhammadu Buhari for passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition act into law.
She made the statement when she paid a courtesy visit to the Bauchi State House of Assembly in appreciation of the passage of the law, today.
The Minister congratulated the House for passing the VAPP law which she said is first in the Northeast.
According to her the action of the Assembly is historic, unique thus the reason of her visit which is her first visit to any State since the breakout of coronavirus pandemic.
Mrs Pauline Tallen emphasized that rape is evil, deadly and its punishment should be equivalent to that of murder and commends Kaduna State’s legislative band executive arms for adding castration to the punishment of rape.
However, the Minister explained that there is a serious burning issue on the ground which is a child right act that requires the urgent attention of the Assembly.
“I see hope for the child in the Speaker and the Honourable Members of this Assembly.
“Children are molested, denied education, drop out of school and other forms of violence. Education is the key.
“It is our responsibility to take care of the child. Girls child education is my top agenda. Bauchi State has produced many great women, we must therefore equip our children with education.
“The society can only develop if women and children are carried along and we make sure the education of girl child is necessary.” She said.
While appealing to the Honourable House to help Governor Bala Mohammad in his efforts for women and children bypassing the child right act, Mrs Tallen said she feels sad that there are no women in the Assembly but commended the House for the deep concern on women and children.
According to her Bauchi State House of Assembly has a promising Speaker who stands for HE for SHE saying she will honour him as gender champion for acknowledging the women and their role in nation-building which is she said is very important.
She advocates for more He for SHE in the Assembly to strengthen the role of women in nation-building, educate the women because if you educate a woman you educate the society.
In his remarks, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman thanked the Minister for the visit which he said is first of its kind in the history of the Assembly.
He added that women being the mothers of the world, the Honourable House noted their role and importance in the development of society.
Rt. Hon Abubakar Y Suleiman added that the 9th Assembly of Bauchi State is gender-sensitive thus put their welfare and protection as a top priority which led them to be the first in the Northeast that passed violence Against Person Prohibition Bill into law.
On the child right act, the Speaker told the Minister that despite the controversial nature of the act, the House will look at the Act and domesticate it in tandem with the culture, tradition and religions of the people of Bauchi State.
He pledged to work with the State Ministry of Women Affairs on the Act and urged the Ministry to commence awareness creation drive on the Act.
The Speaker assured the Minister that House has been working with executive arm to ensure girls child education is given rightful attention in the State.
He informed the Women Affairs Minister that all the members of the House are HE for SHE working to protect the women and children and ensure their wellbeing.
In a statement by the House Spokesperson Abdul Ahmad Burra said the Minister was accompanied to the Honourable House by the State’s First Lady Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammad, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development Hajiya Hajara Jibrin Gidado and other government officials.
