Over 200 women societies across the country, protesting rejection of gender bills have given the federal lawmakers till March 31 to pass the five bills.
They said on Wednesday at a briefing in Abuja, following the suspension of their protest at the National Assembly after the promise by principal officers to recommit the bills on Tuesday.
One of the leaders of the protesting women and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, warned that the women would extend their protests to houses of assembly in the country should the federal lawmakers reneged on its promise.
“We are determined to hold them accountable to their promises to ensure that within seven legislative days, the gender bills are recommitted and positively voted for the inclusive growth and development of Nigeria.
“Should the federal lawmakers fail to act on the bills, we are going to occupy in a bigger way because they are giving us more time to plan from state to state.
“This time around we are going to occupy all the houses of assembly in the country. It is not a matter of threat but affirming our presence in the country,” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
Also, the Country Director of Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), Ms Ene Obi, said that what the women had been doing for the past weeks showed that they could do more and urged the federal lawmakers to fulfil their promise and passed the bills.
