Former MD calls for review of Federal Character Act NAN-H-112 Review Abuja – Dr Rosaline Chenge, former Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA), has called for review of the Act establishing the Federal Character Commission. She said this was to ensure more women participation in civil service. Chenge made the call at the on going Annual National Political Summit 2016 organised by the Save Democracy Group Africa, in Abuja on Tuesday. Chenge speaking on the theme: “Gender relations, federal character principle and political power distribution’’, said the act did not make reference to gender participation. “The federal character does not talk about gender participation but state and geo-political participation. “This summit should quickly do a memo to the federal government and relevant institutions to include gender in the recruitment into government ministries, department and agencies’’, Chenge said. Another speaker, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, retired Deputy Director of Police, said violence and thuggery would continue in the country unless electoral offenders were punished. Akpoyibo, delivering a lecture on “Security agencies in election and punishment for electoral offenders’’, said there was need to strengthen INEC to ensure electoral offenders faced the wrath of law. He added that the deployment of armed security on election days would continue until all stakeholders in the electoral process acknowledged the need for peaceful election. Akpoyibo, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure that security personnel deployed to secure election were catered for. He also called on government to provide peed boats, life jackets and other necessary kits for security personnel deployed to protect citizens on election day. “It is also important that the issue of unemployment and poverty are addressed. “When people are engaged and are not hungry, they will have nothing to do with election violence’’, Akpoyibo said. Mr Peter Esele, former President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), who was the Chairman on Youth Empowerment Session, called for the empowerment of the youth. Esele said the development of a nation revolved around the empowerment of the youths. He called on elders to mentor the younger generation, and on the youths to study hard for brighter future. (NAN)
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