Ilorin
The Vice chairman, Industrial Global Union(IGU), Comrade Issa Aremu, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for signing Executive Order 009 toward eradicating open defecation in the country.
He also hailed the President’s bold decision on border closure, noting that the policy woukd boost local production of materials and eradicate poverty through the provision of job opportunities for youths.
Aremu spoke with newsmen shortly after donating a twin- toilet facility to Junior Secondary School, Ayegun- Araromi in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara state, as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day.
The frontline labour leader said he donated the facility to complement the Fderal and State government’s efforts aimed at eradicating open defecation in the country.
Aremu, noted that Executive Orders 009 and 003, signed by Buhari, were bold steps geared toward eradicating open defecations and improving the nation’s economy respectively.
He added that the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is, “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”,serves as a wake up call toward equal gender representation.
“It focuses on the need for all to be involved in the fight for gender equality. Today, we should raise the voice for gender equality in the politics and governance, boardrooms, government, workplace and trade unions,” he said.
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Aremu also noted that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state had gone down in history as the first African leader with the highest number of female cabinet members and political appointees.
“At present, nine or 52.25 per cent of his 16-person cabinet picks are women. That is higher than the 35 per cent affirmative action sought by the Beijing Declaration and a big statement for the Nigerian girl-child as the world marks the 2020 edition of the International Women’s Day.
On the toilet donation, Aremu said” I am using the occasion of the International’s Women’s Day today to officially present to the Junior Secondary School, Araromi Ayegun, another block of twin toilets for use by the students and teachers in the school.
“Similar donation of a block of twin toilets was made exactly a year ago to mark the 2019 International Women’s Day (IWD).The gesture is to make teaching and learning more conducive for both teachers and students of the school.
“It also complements Kwara State’s administration’s effort and commitment to improve sanitation and hygiene in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) six (6).
He noted that SDG six sought to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.
The unionist also commended the state government for seeking to end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations by 2030.
“We hope this also complements the objectives of Executive Order 009 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari which tends to end open defacation,”he said.
