The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to live up to its responsibilities to Nigerians by ensuring that politics is not monetised as a way of ensuring credible, free and fair election in 2023.
This call is contained in a communique signed by the Association’s Chairperson Comrade Annah Daniel and issued at the end of the Association’s congress held on over the weekend at NUJ FCT Council secretariat, Abuja
According to the communique, NAWOJ is also worried about the seeming partisan move by the electoral umpire in shifting the date for submission of list of candidates thereby giving the ruling party an undue advantage over other parties.
“We call on INEC to ensure that aspirants conform to stipulated spending for their various positions.
The Congress also applauded Nigerian women for participating actively in the primary elections in addition to the increased number of women who have emerged as their party flag bearers.
” We commend all Nigerian women who had the courage to contest for elective offices and congratulate specially those who won in the primary elections.
The Women Journalists however lamented the poor state of the Nigerian child including the deteriorating falling standard of education compounded by perennial industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) adding that many youth, who have been left idle may have turned to crime leading to rise in rape, kidnapping petty theft and other violent crimes.
It also called on the government to do all within its powers to ensure that 2003 Child Rights Act is domesticated in all states of the federation and ensure the establishment of family court in all states.” We want the public and the media to monitor the implementation more especially where it concerns the women and childre
“We also call on the Federal Government to live up to its Constitutional duty of protecting lives and property of its citizens. The state of insecurity in the country and in particular, the Abuja-Kaduna train attack which happened over two months ago, with the victims including women and children, yet to to be rescued, even as the terrorists have threatened to kill them if their demands are not met is really worrisome to us as citizens”.