21/01/2026
In case you miss yesterday
BENUE ASSEMBLY PASSES WIDOWS COMMISSION BILL IN TO LAW
A bill seeking the establishment of the Benue State widows commission and prohibition of harmful cultural practices against widows, protecting them from exploitative acts and punishing offenders was today passed into law at the Benue State House of Assembly.
The bill was passed after scalling through a third reading during a plenary presided over by the Honourable Speaker Rt Hon Berger Alfred Emberga , MNIQS.
The passage of the bill followed a report from the House Standing Committee on women affairs chaired by Hon. Mrs. Becky Orpin ( Gboko East) State Constituency.
Hon. Becky said the law is premised on the fact that there are several ethnic groups in the state with diverse cultural norms and practices which negatively impact widows upon the death of their husbands which include but not limited to disinheritance from the assets of a deceased husband, banishment from a late husband’s home, being forced to marry a relation of the deceased husband amongst others.
Members unanimously supported the bill and the Honourable Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the clerk of the House Dr. Bem Faasema Mela to read the bill for the third time after which, it was successfully passed into law.