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The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a landmark bill aimed at establishing the Benue State Widows Commission to protect widows from exploitative and harmful cultural practices prevalent in some communities across the state.
The legislation, titled “A Law to Establish the Benue State Widows Commission and for Related Purposes, 2025,” was formally passed during plenary on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in Makurdi after its third reading. The bill prohibits dehumanizing traditional rites imposed on widows, safeguards their rights from exploitative acts, and prescribes punishments for offenders.
Leading the debate, the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East), described the bill as highly significant, noting that it addresses the challenges faced by one of society’s most vulnerable groups. She emphasized that the passage of the law would position the House as a champion in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to protect the weak and marginalized.
The Majority Leader, Mr. Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s findings, recommendations, and all clauses of the bill, which was unanimously supported by members.
Following the passage, Speaker Alfred Embergera directed the Clerk, Dr. Bem Mela, to transmit the bill to the Governor for assent.
In a related development during the same plenary, the House considered the report of its Standing Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare following a familiarisation visit to the Benue State Rehabilitation Board in Apir. Committee Chairman Mrs. Beckie Orpin disclosed that the existing law establishing the board had become obsolete and recommended its repeal.
She highlighted that the monthly contribution of N100,000 from local government councils was grossly inadequate to meet the board’s operational needs. Orpin further revealed severe infrastructural deficits at the facility, including the lack of a sick bay, instructional materials for effective teaching, and operational vehicles.
Contributing to the debate, Majority Leader Thomas Dugeri described the condition of the board as pitiable, citing massive infrastructural decay, poor feeding of students due to inadequate funding, and called for urgent redress.
Mr. McClinton Manger (APC/Tarka) noted that even the N100,000 monthly allocation was hardly released on time and urged the government to take reasonable steps to secure the future and livelihood of the children under the board’s care.
Ruling on the matter, Speaker Embergera directed the Committees on Women Affairs, Business, and Rules to work with the Committee on Finance to review and recommend an upward adjustment of the board’s monthly allocation from N100,000 to N1,500,000.
He further instructed the Commissioner for Finance to ensure timely release of funds to the board and directed the state government to procure a Toyota bus for student transportation and a Hilux vehicle for official use. The Speaker also urged the provision of instructional materials to enhance teaching and learning at the facility.
The twin developments underscore the Assembly’s renewed focus on social welfare, gender protection, and institutional strengthening to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in Benue State.
