Joel Oladele, Abuja
An umbrella organisation for all Nigerian women and gender associations, the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), has described the incessant strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a threat to national security.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, as part of events marking the International Day of the African Child and the first ever Women-in National Service, the National President, NCWS, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau tasked the government at all levels to take education of Nigerian youths and children seriously the way they do with political campaigns, saying that is the only way the future of the nation can be secured.
Recall that ASUU had embarked on a one-month warning strike on Monday February 14, 2022, which later led to indefinite strike, to compel the Federal Government to honour the agreement it signed with the union under a Memorandum of Action (MoA) in December 2020.
Lami, therefore, called on leaders to carry out their duties with the fear of God.
According to her, it is worrisome that Nigeria has the highest number of Out-Of-School-Children in the whole world, a situation that calls for urgent action.
“We are in a better position to be in the forefront in matters affecting Nigerians, their lives and livelihood, particularly our teeming Women and Children.
“We know Government alone cannot meet-up with the compelling needs of National and Gender Developments, so we gladly accepted to partner with FGN-NIMEC Projects Office, towards tackling such critical challenges like: Gender Violence (particularly raping), Drug Abuse, Out-of-School Children, Youth Unemployment and related social vices.
“On the issues of National Security, we are appealing to our politicians to fear God and face these problems squarely, in the same way they are facing Party Delegates. Just imagine how Billions of Tax-Payers money are squandered, in the recent weeks, during parties primaries. If issues of Security and Education are taken in like manner, Nigeria would have been a Heaven on this Earth.
“ Haba! Let’s all fear Allah, and discharge our individual and official obligations. Almighty God does not sleep. We must be aware that our nation is drifting while our leaders are busy engaged in selfish and greedy political mis-adventures.
“We are also calling on the Federal Government and ASUU to please re-open our Universities, so that our children will be fully engaged. Incessant crises in our Educational Institutions are big threats to National Security.
“Children’s continuous stay at home is very worrisome to us (Mothers). It makes them idle, redundant and therefore vulnerable to all forms of violence and negative tendencies,” Lami lamented.
Speaking further, she said it is a burning desire of NCWS and its traditional partners to speed-up the process of implementing the United Nations Resolution on Gender Affirmative Action (Beijing 95) and the UN-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“No wonder, therefore, we accepted to be Co-Organisers and Co-Hosts, for the laudable initiative of marking the International Day of the African Child and the forthcoming Women-In-National Service Week (WINSERVE).
“These twin-events are very significant to the promotion and defence of Women’s and Children’s Rights, in all ramifications.
“It is on record that the twin maladies of Violent Rape Against Women and Neglect of Children’s rights to existence and basic amenities like Education, Health and even Security are at their lowest ebb in Africa: In fact Nigeria has the highest Out-Of-School-Children, in the whole world!
“This is very sad, clearly worrisome and therefore, unacceptable. We are equally witnesses to widespread cases of Raping and related forms of Violence against innocent Women, mostly minors, every day on the rise, at an alarming proportion.
“This is the very essence of marking the Day of the African Child. Today, is thus a moment for sober reflection, the day to reawaken and sensitise both Governments and Non-Governmental Institutions, to be alert to their responsibilities.
“We must begin to accord maximum priorities to fight the twin monsters of Gender Violence and shameless neglect of our Children’s rights.
“At this point, I wish to call on all State Governors, to please speed-up the process of adopting the Child Rights, must take a cognitive and collective action on this matter. It is long overdue.”