Sexual Harassment: Women Affairs Minister to Step In on Natasha’s Suspension

The drama in the Senate just got even hotter, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Welfare Hajia Imaan Suleiman isn’t sitting this one out! She’s stepping up to address the sexual harassment allegations that have rocked the National Assembly. Calling the whole situation “unfortunate,” she made it clear that such incidents should never happen in the first place.

Now, here’s the real tea Suleiman is on a mission to broker peace and find a resolution ASAP. She’s already making moves to engage with the Senate and ensure that justice is served fairly. But that’s not all; she’s also standing firm on keeping women in political spaces, saying it would be a huge loss to see female representation in the Senate shrink any further.

Her reaction follows the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. With her suspension, the number of female senators in the 109-member chamber has now dropped to just three. That’s right—just three! A serious cause for concern.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on the eve of International Women’s Day (IWD), Suleiman expressed her concern about the declining number of women in the legislature. She pointed out that the previous Senate had nine women, and now they’re down to four. The goal? Not just to keep those numbers up but to increase them!

“We don’t want to lose any more female members,” she emphasized. “This is a critical moment, and we need to push harder for more representation.”

Suleiman also highlighted the importance of educating women in politics and ensuring they collaborate effectively with their male counterparts. She stressed that Nigeria must pick up the pace in bringing more women to the table in governance and decision-making.

In a move to smooth things over, she revealed that the Senate President had shown a willingness to broker peace. “I was at the National Assembly yesterday when they marked International Women’s Day, and the last thing the President of the Senate said was, ‘We’re open to broker peace.’”

With that, she’s positioning herself as the go-between, determined to ensure fair play between both parties. “We’ll work with all stakeholders to make sure justice is tempered with mercy,” she stated.

At a time when female politicians are already vastly underrepresented, losing more women in the National Assembly is not an option. Suleiman is making it clear—she’s here to advocate, mediate, and push for real change.