The Permanent Secretary, Audit Service Commission (ASC), Mrs. Oluwakemi Amudat Garbadeen-Adedeji, has urged members of staff to join the collective effort to say NO to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), emphasising the importance of mutual respect, self-restraint and peaceful conflict resolution in the workplace and society.
Mrs. Garbadeen-Adedeji made the call on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, as the Audit Service Commission joined the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and other stakeholders to mark the “Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence” Day, themed “SGBV: It Ends With Us.” The observance reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to raising awareness and promoting a safe, respectful and violence-free society.
Addressing members of staff, the Permanent Secretary expressed strong opposition to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, describing violence in any form as unacceptable. She urged staff to avoid behaviours, actions and situations that could lead to SGBV, while encouraging them to exercise restraint, embrace dialogue and seek peaceful ways of resolving disagreements and conflicts.
Mrs. Garbadeen-Adedeji noted that SGBV is not exclusively a women’s issue, stressing that men can also be victims. She, however, explained that the issue is often discussed from a women-centred perspective because women are disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence. She encouraged staff to exercise caution and, where necessary, walk away from situations that could escalate into violence or expose them to circumstances that may result in SGBV.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised that physical violence is never an acceptable means of resolving conflicts, particularly in intimate relationships. She therefore urged staff to promote tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful conflict resolution in their daily interactions.
She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence and fostering a safe, respectful and violence-free environment for all members of staff and the wider society.
