Abuja – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has pledged to intensify efforts to end sexual harassment and child labour in the country. He made this commitment during a special session with young female Nigerians to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.
The event, themed “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis,” brought together schoolgirls from across the country. The Speaker assured them that the National Assembly would continue to make laws that protect their rights and promote their welfare.
Abbas expressed concern about the rising cases of child labour, particularly girls being forced to work as domestic staff instead of attending school. He emphasized the need for stronger laws to address this issue and ensure that girls have access to education.
“We need to ensure that no girl under a certain age is allowed to be seen working as domestic staff in the houses of well-to-do families,” he said. “Those children are being denied access to education, and we need to come up with legislation that will significantly diminish this menace.”
The Speaker further condemned sexual harassment in schools, promising to support initiatives to end the menace. “We will not take it anymore,” he said. “We will do everything possible to ensure that we put a permanent stop to it.”
On women’s representation, Abbas highlighted efforts to increase women’s representation in parliament, including a bill to reserve seats for women and Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs). “Once we have more women in parliament, they will have more say in terms of women’s and girls’ interests,” he said.
The Speaker urged the girls to take advantage of opportunities available to them and to strive for excellence. He commended them for their academic achievements and encouraged them to continue to work hard.
The event was organized by the Office of the Speaker in partnership with the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
