HURIWA calls for establishment of Ministry for Family Affairs in FCT

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the establishment of a Ministry for Family Affairs or a Department for Family Affairs in the FCT.

HURIWA National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko made this call at a media briefing in Abuja.

Onwubiko who expressed concern over the establishment of the Women Affairs Secretariat in the FCT, said the move was suspicious and wondered if it was a ploy by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to win favours from the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is essential that any new institution created should genuinely address the rights and needs of women and children rather than being seen as a political gesture,” he said.

He noted further that “while it is essential to address issues faced by women, creating yet another anachronistic institution such as the Women Affairs Secretariat, seems inadequate and potentially politically motivated.”

“The existing Ministry of Women Affairs at both federal and state levels has often fallen short in protecting women’s rights, and issues like smuggling and trafficking of girls for the sex trade have continued to thrive.”

The coordinator who said the creation of a women affair’s ministry seems out of touch with reality, argued that the establishment of a Ministry for Family Affairs or a Department for Family Affairs in the FCT, would recognize the interconnected nature of family issues and promote inclusivity for all gender.