The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called for the amendment of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Act) CAP F7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Part II, Section 2 which 'relegates' the opportunity of married women as regards national appointment.

Country Vice President, Hauwa Shekarau, who made the call yesterday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2012 FIDA week, said there is need to amend the Act so as to give married women the right to claim their state of origin or their spouse's state.

The section provides that "A married woman shall continue to lay claim to her state of origin for the purpose of implementation of the Federal Character Formulae at the national level."

Shekarau described the Act as a discriminatory double edged sword that works against women who are married to spouses from different states of origin as theirs.

The association also appealed for the passage of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Bill. The bill, when passed into law will curb violence against everyone.

Also yesterday, the Chairman of the character commission, Professor Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem, condemned the practice of nepotism and political patronage in gaining employment into the public sector.

Abdulraheem was represented by Haruna Mamuda Gaidam at a one-day workshop in Abuja on realizing federal character vision and mission through works, transport and aviation sectors.