Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Thursday in Abuja said the House was gender-friendly.

Tambuwal gave this indication when Mrs Michelle Machelet, UN Under Secretary- General for Entity, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, paid him a courtesy visit.

"In the House of Representatives, as an institution, we have always been gender friendly," he said.

He said that the House was doing everything possible to continue to support women in aspiring to various leadership positions.

According to him, the gender, equal opportunity and violence against women bill was undergoing legislative processes in the House.

He said that the ongoing constitution amendment would address issues relating to women, especially as it had to do with elective positions.

The speaker enjoined women groups to sensitise the public on women participation in politics.

He lauded the contributions of women to development in the past years.

Earlier. Machelet had urged the House to continue to expand the role of women in leadership positions through legislation that would give them equal participation in politics.

She said that investing in women was paramount to the sustenance of national development.

Machelet commended government for the progress made so far in women participation in politics.

She enjoined the National Assembly to domesticate all protocols, treaties and conventions related to women issues.