The attention of the Ministry of Women Affairs has been drawn to some False reports and publications shown on the “Morning Show” segment of the Arise TV insinuating that the Honorable Minister for Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye advocated for women not to pay taxes in Nigeria.
A statement signed by Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, Special Assistant, Media to the minister stated that many who read and watched the programme on Arise TV of yesterday would see that it was out of character, from the usual rigour and incisiveness associated with objective journalism, hence the need to clarify the disinformation and allegations against the Honorable Minister has become most pertinent.
We wish to state categorically clear that the Minister did not canvass for women not to pay tax because as a law-abiding citizen and a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project, she strongly embraces the fact that there is no gender barrier for tax payment which is the civic responsibility of both men and women in the country.
To further buttress the misrepresentation of the Minister’s speech at the event, the Arise TV segment did not complement the visuals with a track-up of the Minister’s presentation at the program which was organized by the Ministry to address peace and security of women in Nigeria.
To the avoidance of doubts, the Minster stated that some initiatives including mechanized farming and Tricycle transport schemes called Pink Riders have been introduced to empower women to support their husbands and her exact words were “I am begging the Army, a task force in the motor park and Police, when my women, my Pink Riders start their Keke across the nation, leave them alone, just secure them for me, just give them security.
Earlier at the strategic session in October to flag off the Pink Riders Transport Scheme, the Minister had also invited the Police, Vigilante and Transport Union representatives to further provide security, and seamless operation of the scheme and also appealed for the women who operate the Tricycles to be exempted from any form of Harassment by the task force operators at the motor parks.
We, therefore want to warn ARISE TV to desist from their incessant and malicious reportage and shouldn’t make comments that will throw the country into confusion and chaos. We therefore wish to state here for record purposes that these insinuations are wrong and misrepresent what the Honorable Minister said at the event.
The Ministry of Women Affairs looks up to the media including the Arise TV as dependable allies and veritable platforms to effectively drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, especially in the area of restoring the hopes of Nigerian women and the vulnerable children.