Women, peace, security priorities of Buhari’s administration – Agba

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, said on Tuesday that women, peace and security agenda were among the top priorities of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister, who made this assertion at the High-Level stakeholders’ breakfast meeting on Women, Peace and Security Agenda, in Abuja, organised by the Ministry Women Affairs, said seeing the central role that women played in preventing and resolving conflicts, the present administration had proritised women’s participation and adequate representation in policy-making body of the country.

According to Agba, “Despite our efforts, women and girls continue to pay the consequences of conflict in several parts of the country. However, on our part we have continued to give women a big role in planning a better future for our country.

“For instance, in the formulation of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2025, launched by His Excellency, Mr President in December 2021, women played key roles in the Central Working Committee and the various Technical Working Groups (TWGs) that midwifed the plan and the rights of Women are also adequately mainstreamed into the Plan to protect them from poverty and socio-economic shocks.”

Agba opined that the breakfast meeting would help to fully reaffirm the commitments and discuss how to further support and amplify ongoing efforts by women to craft and sustain peace as well as putting women at the centre of our activities.

“We cannot achieve sustainable development and peace when we ignore to uphold the rights and safety of women in our society,” he noted.

He said the federal government was planning to develop the 3rd National Action Plan, using a robust multisectoral approach to facilitate joint ownership and commitment to the implementation of the Action Plan.

The minister said the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning was committed to the women, peace, and security agenda, as laid out in United Nation’s Resolution 1325.

He noted that this would see to the promotion of women’s participation and leadership – in planning, in politics, in education, in every aspect of public life.

“So, this should not just be a priority for women; it should be a priority for everyone who values peace and progress.”

According to him, “For our part, my ministry is proud of our country’s tireless work to contribute to the advancement of this landmark resolution and its tenets. Consequently, Nigeria launched its 1st National Action Plan (NAP) in August, 2013 and the 2nd in 2017.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the exacerbation of the unacceptable rates of gender-based violence and with women bearing disproportionately the care and economic burdens consequent on the pandemic that has ravaged the entire world.

“This has contributed to erasing decades of progress on efforts to protect and educate girls. Many of the consequences will take several years to reverse if we choose not to act. We cannot allow that to happen.

“We need to work together to promote the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Nigeria because we need to make a difference. Nigeria women and girls need us just as we need them to contribute to the development of Nigeria. Let us therefore use this agenda to advance peace and security for all as there can be no lasting peace without women.”

He said from interaction with many female advocates and leaders to hear their views and ideas about how to further ensure that women, peace and security was guaranteed at the centre of efforts to adapt and build resilience.

He said there was renewed vigour and determination to continue to work to substantially ensure that Nigerian Women were protected and empowered.

According to him, “This will enable them to have enhanced livelihoods through our various empowerment programmes thereby ensuring dignity, peace and progress.”