The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish the Benue State Widows Commission, designed to prohibit harmful cultural practices against widows and protect them from exploitation.
Titled “A Law to Establish the Benue State Widows Commission and for Related Purposes, 2025,” the bill was passed during plenary in Makurdi on Tuesday.
Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Beckie Orpin, described the bill as highly significant in addressing the challenges faced by one of society’s most vulnerable groups.
The commission will also prescribe punishments for offenders who engage in exploitative acts against widows.
In a separate development, the Assembly considered a report on the state Rehabilitation Board, revealing severe underfunding and infrastructural decay. The Speaker directed a review of the board’s enabling law and increased its monthly allocation from ₦100,000 to ₦1.5 million.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on legislative proceedings. The bill awaits executive assent to become law.
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