The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has revealed that her ministry is making efforts to broker peace between Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP/Kogi Central) and the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
She also said men and women should be more liberal minded by learning how to work better to achieve common goals.
She said her Ministry will continue to sensitise women on this issue.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim made the observation against the backdrop of the sexual harassment allegations rocking the Senate.
She said this while addressing State House Correspondents during the Meet-the-Press meeting on Friday.
The Minister said the allegation of sexual harassment by Akpoti-Uduaghan, which led to her suspension from the Senate for six months, was an unfortunate incident that should not have happened.
“It is unfortunate; we’re going to be brokering peace. In the last assembly, we had nine women senators; in this Assembly, we have four. We don’t want to lose any member of the Senate or House of Representatives.
“We want to increase the numbers. We will engage all the stakeholders to ensure that they temper justice with mercy,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said she was at the National Assembly on Thursday, where they marked International Women’s Day.
She said the last thing the President of the Senate said was, “We’re open to broker peace.
“So, we’re going to be an intermediary between the two parties to see that peace reigns.
“We will continue to sensitise women so that we will work better together as women and men.”
Suleiman-Ibrahim also called on women and girls to arise and claim their space in shaping the future of the country.
She noted that the Tinubu led government is committed to strengthening survivor centres for victims of harmful traditional practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation amongst other unhealthy practices against girls and women.
The Minister added that the move is not just a women’s issue but a national crisis that undermines the nation’s collective development.
The Minister, lauded President Bola Tinubu’s effort for significantly raising budgetary allocation to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 International Women’s Day, the Minister of Women Affairs identified the action as the first time in the history of Nigeria that such priority was given to the Ministry.
“Accelerating action demands that we confront the harsh realities facing women and girls in Nigeria today.
“For too long, our interventions have been largely dependent on donor funding; an approach that, while helpful, is neither sustainable nor sufficient.
“True transformation requires nationally owned investments. This is why we commend His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who has, for the first time in the history of the Ministry, significantly raised its budget.
“This landmark decision signals a new era of government commitment to institutionalizing women’s empowerment as a core pillar of national development.”
She also outlined plans to strengthen legal protections for women and children, with key legislative reforms and advocacy efforts set to mark Nigeria’s 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations.
She disclosed that several crucial laws, which includes the 23-year-old Child Rights Act, the 18-year-old National Child Policy, and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, are undergoing reviews to ensure the legal instruments remain relevant.
“All these reforms will establish stronger protection frameworks and instruments for children, especially since we currently do not have a dedicated child development agency.
“That is one of the things we want to put in place to ensure our children are well protected,” the minister stated.
She further emphasized that the government will intensify efforts to simplify and educate Nigerians on existing laws to improve awareness and compliance.
As part of efforts to promote gender equality, the long-debated Gender Bill is also undergoing review.
The Minister acknowledged that some contentious areas previously hindered its passage, but the government is committed to extensive consultations to secure broader support.
“There were key areas we didn’t agree on collectively, so the bill is undergoing review. This time, we will ensure all stakeholders reach a consensus to improve its chances of passage,” she said.
Acknowledging the critical role of lawmakers in the process, she stated that her office will explore negotiations where necessary and ensure the bill gets expected support.
“We know those who will be voting for this bill, and we will engage them, negotiate where necessary, and ensure they support it. If this Gender Bill passes, it will be revolutionary for women in Nigeria.”
The Minister also stressed the importance of sensitization campaigns to rally support from the public and other stakeholders.
