TheCable

Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently in the upper legislative chamber.

The First Lady walked into the red chamber alongside Pauline Tallen, minister of women affairs, at 12:00 pm on Wednesday.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said: “Let me on behalf of all of us welcome to the chamber the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the mother of the nation. Your Excellency, you are welcome.

“Let me recognise the presence of the honourable minister of women affairs who is a friend of the senate.”

After she settled in, Abdullahi Yahaya, senate leader, moved a motion for Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy president of the senate and chairman of the constitution review committee, to present the report.

While presenting the report, Omo-Agege said there is a provision for 36 slots in the senate for only women. He laid the report afterwards.

Speaking further, Lawan said the senate under him is gender sensitive and is working to include women in governance.

“The First Lady has been consistent in supporting gender inclusivity, we are all in support of gender sensitivity. In this senate we have only two groups, the female senators and ‘he for shes’,” the senate president said.

“This is a report on the constitution review and the presence of the First Lady is to show her support for one of the bills on affirmative action for more female parliamentarians in both chambers, the senate and the house and the state legislatures.

“Your Excellency, I want to encourage you to continue with your advocacy.”

The First Lady left the red chamber after Lawan’s comments.