Group asks National Assembly to introduce bill to acknowledge First Ladies
A group under the auspices of Nigeria First Project (NFJ), has appealed to the National Assembly to introduce a bill that will officially and constitutionally acknowledge the office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the First Ladies of each state and local government council.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Monday, its National Coordinator, Jonah Bonet, also called on the National Assembly to see it as a very important national project by initiating a concrete bill that would empower the First Ladies to function as they should, believing that the recognition of the offices is essential for the progress and prosperity of the nation.
He stated, “We firmly believe that by doing so, the First Ladies would be better positioned to fulfill their primary roles, which should focus on the wellbeing and advancement of women, children, and the overall development of our respective communities.
“The office of the First Lady should not be relegated for only pet projects which are mostly seasonal but should be empowered to carry out crucial roles especially where it will have direct impact on all the women across the nation. Her impact on women in shaping the future of our children should be seen as a long-term Nigerian project.”
With the necessary support and investment from the government, he said that women have the potential to bring about significant change in the society and contribute to raising responsible and God-fearing children.
Bonet lamented that the breakdown of family values has to the creation of a generation of criminals, bandits, armed robbers and terrorists.
He noted that it is high time Nigerians realize the gravity of the issue and take urgent measures to advocate for proper parenting and the instilling of good family values in the children.
He believed, “This is the only way we can save our nation from the looming dangers that we may face in the future.”
He said, “Every effort made by our mothers towards the welfare of women and children should be seen as a national service which seeks to strengthen social values and by extension, helps in reducing the rate of criminality in our nation. As such, all well-meaning Nigerians should support a bill that will support and strengthened their efforts.”
He stated that the influence of women in the Nigerian society cannot be overstated, pointing out that being mothers, they possess unique qualities that make them essential in shaping the future of the nation as they are emotionally sympathetic, kind, hospitable, caring, and accommodating.
The family, which is the first and most important agent of social change, he believed must be given the attention it deserves for the nation to experience peace, unity, and development, saying that as a nation, Nigerians must recognize and appreciate the impact that women can have in creating a just and harmonious society and must continue to strive for change and work towards a society that values the wellbeing and humanity of everyone.
The National Coordinator noted that the group is dedicated to advocating for patriotism and inspiring the Nigerian spirit in all, stressing that recent events in the country have sparked a call to action, and are determined to steer the conversation towards positive change.
He stressed, “We firmly believe that a country can only thrive if its citizens have faith in its potential. It is disheartening to see that even young children, below the age of 18, were actively involved in the recent protests, highlighting the breakdown of family values in our society.”
According to him, the recent national protests have shown Nigerians just how much is at stake if the country continued down this path but must act now before it is too late as the society has strayed from its core values, and it is up to the people as individuals and as a community to instill values in the children and future generations.
“As concerned citizens, we urge every parent to take responsibility for raising their children with strong moral values and a sense of duty towards their nation. Only then can we begin to pave a brighter future for our country and leave a positive legacy for our children to inherit,” he appealed.
