The Benue State House of Assembly has endorsed a fresh piece of legislation creating a dedicated Widows Commission, a move designed to confront harmful traditional practices against widows and protect them from abuse and exploitation.
The bill, formally titled “A law to establish the Benue State Widows Commission and for Related Purposes, 2025,” successfully passed its third reading on Tuesday, the 20th of January, 2026, during plenary proceedings in Makurdi.
While debating the bill, the Chairperson of the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Beckie Orpin, underscored the urgency of the commission, describing widows as one of the most vulnerable populations within the state. She explained that the legislation reflects the assembly’s responsibility to uphold constitutional provisions that guarantee protection for disadvantaged groups.
Subsequently, the Majority Leader, Thomas Dugeri, moved a motion seeking the assembly’s adoption of the committee’s report, alongside its recommendations and the bill’s provisions. Acting on this, Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the Clerk of the House, Bem Mela, to proceed with the final reading, leading to the bill’s passage.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also examined a separate report submitted by the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare following an oversight visit to the Benue State Rehabilitation Board located in April.
Presenting the report, Orpin revealed that the law governing the board has become obsolete and requires repeal. She added that the existing monthly allocation of N100,000 from local government councils falls far short of meeting the board’s operational needs.
According to her findings, the centre lacks basic facilities, including a functional health unit, adequate educational resources, and serviceable vehicles.
Adding his voice, Dugeri painted a grim picture of the facility, citing dilapidated infrastructure and poor feeding conditions for the children, largely due to inadequate funding.
Also contributing, McClinton Manger, who represents the Tarka constituency, noted that even the modest N100,000 contribution is frequently unpaid, urging immediate government action to protect the wellbeing of children accommodated at the centre.
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After deliberations, Speaker Emberga directed the committees on women affairs, as well as business and rules, to draft a new bill to repeal the 1996 edict currently regulating the rehabilitation board.
He further announced the assembly’s approval of an upward review of the board’s monthly allocation from N100,000 to N1.5 million.
In addition, the speaker instructed the Commissioner for Finance to ensure timely release of funds, approved the purchase of a Toyota bus for students’ transportation, and a Hilux vehicle for official use.
Emberga also stressed the importance of supplying sufficient instructional materials to improve the quality of education and learning at the rehabilitation centre.