President Muhammadu Buhari appears to have reacted to Senator Remi Tinubu over the inclusion of women in the 2016 budget under deliberation by the national assembly.
On January, Tinubu expressed her dissatisfaction at the fact that the Ministry for Women Affairs has the least allocation with no provision for Women Development Projects, Maternal Health, etc.
She then stated that that women we are Internally Displaced Persons were only used for elections and now they have been abandoned, noting that, the change that was expected is not the change that is being experienced now.
But in a statement issued today by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari stated that his administration will continue to guarantee the economic rights of women in the country.
Adesina said Buhari made the remark at the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Saturday night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He added that the President had assured increased budgetary allocation to projects specifically targeted at improving the lives of women.
According to him, the Federal Government under his watch has demonstrated its commitment to the rights of women by appointing women of proven integrity to key positions within the cabinet.
“We have increased the budgetary allocation of ministries that have direct bearing on the lives of women, particularly health and education, with greater emphasis on girl-child education.
“As you all know, the terrible activities of the Boko Haram sect led to destruction of thousands of lives and property in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, displacing millions from their respective homes, most of who are women and children and are now at various IDP camps across the country.
“In order to fully restore and protect their rights, government is in the process of massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of the affected victims in the North Eastern part of the country with the ultimate goal of restoring normalcy in full to that region, as well as improving the wellbeing of the affected persons.”
Although the statement was not directed at Tinubu, it appeared to be reacting to her comments on the floor of the upper chamber.
