The Society of Septists and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SSGON) said that failure to pass the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) and Convention on the Elimination and Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) bills at the Nigeria legislative houses was causing retrogression to the Nigerian women.

President of the society, Professor John Okoro, made this assertion recently in Abuja at the ongoing 41st Scientific Conference of the society.

Professor Okoro said the failure to pass NIRH and CEDAW bills had made the Nigerian statistics in neonatal death to remain unacceptably high because of the misconception that the bill will promote abortion among women in the country.

Several experts say these bills could have started the process for the mass reduction in the number of women who die in Nigeria due to pregnancy related complications.

Prof. Okoro added that the convention on the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women was the only human right of women and targets cultural tradition as influential forces shaping the general roles and family relations in the nation.