The Benue State House of Assembly has approved a bill seeking to establish the Benue State Widows Commission, with the aim of outlawing harmful cultural practices against widows across the state.
The proposed legislation also focuses on shielding widows from exploitation while outlining penalties for individuals found guilty of such acts.
The bill, titled “A Law to Establish the Benue State Widows Commission and for Related Purposes, 2025,” was passed on Tuesday during plenary in Makurdi.
While presenting the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko), described the legislation as crucial, stressing that it addressed the plight of one of the most vulnerable segments of society.
She explained that the passage of the bill would reinforce the Assembly’s constitutional duty to protect the weak and uphold social justice.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), subsequently moved a motion for the adoption of the committee’s findings, recommendations, and all clauses contained in the bill.
Following this, the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, invited the Clerk of the House, Dr Bem Mela, to read the bill for the third time, after which it was formally passed into law.
In a separate matter, lawmakers deliberated on a report submitted by the House Standing Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare after its familiarisation visit to the Benue State Rehabilitation Board located in Apir.
Presenting the report, Mrs Orpin disclosed that the law establishing the rehabilitation board had become outdated and required repeal. She noted that the monthly contribution of N100,000 from local government councils was grossly insufficient to sustain the board’s operations.
She further revealed that the facility lacked essential infrastructure, including a sick bay, teaching materials, and functional vehicles to support its activities.
During deliberations, Majority Leader Thomas Dugeri described the condition of the board as deplorable, pointing to severe infrastructural decay and poor feeding of students due to inadequate funding, and called for urgent intervention.
Mr McClinton Manger (APC/Tarka) also expressed concern, stating that even the N100,000 monthly contribution was rarely released, and urged the government to take concrete steps to safeguard the future and welfare of the children at the centre.
In his ruling, Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the Committees on Women Affairs, Business, and Rules to prepare a bill to repeal the 1996 edict that established the rehabilitation board.
He announced that the House had approved an increase in the board’s monthly allocation from N100,000 to N1,500,000 and instructed the Commissioner for Finance to ensure prompt release of the funds.
The Speaker also directed the state government to provide a Toyota bus for students and a Hilux vehicle for official duties, while calling for the supply of instructional materials to improve teaching and learning at the facility.
What you should know
The establishment of the Benue State Widows Commission reflects growing legislative efforts to address gender-based vulnerabilities and harmful traditional practices in Nigeria.
Widows in many communities face social exclusion, economic hardship, and cultural abuses following the death of their spouses. By creating a statutory body with protective and regulatory powers, the Benue State House of Assembly aims to provide institutional support and legal backing for widows’ rights.
The Assembly’s simultaneous focus on rehabilitative institutions also highlights concerns about child welfare, funding gaps, and outdated legal frameworks governing social support systems in the state.
