By George OPARA
Plateau State House of Assembly has moved to prioritize the women and girls inheritance rights in the state.
This development followed a public hearing held at the Assembly complex in Jos on Tuesday, April 14, participants were drawn from the government, judiciary, security agencies, female advocacy groups, traditional institutions, and civil society organizations who backed the legislature action
Spear News gathered the proposed law seeks to protect the rights of women and girls to inherit lands and properties from parents as against the existing practice where only male children are entitled to land inheritance.
Participants at the meeting described the proposed bill as timely, transformative, and critical to ending decades of gender-based discrimination.
The public hearing, which was organized by the Assembly, highlighted the bill aimed at regulating and protecting the rights of women and girls to inherit properties, benefits, and privileges from deceased husbands and parents.
While addressing the audience, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary Matters, Hon. Kalamu Idris Gyang, and Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Sylvester Wallangko, agreed that submission by stakeholders in support of the bill, along with recommendations for strengthening its provisions showed a positive response to the proposal.
Hon. Gyang who further emphasized the urgency of the legislation, noted that cultural practices have long deprived women of inheritance rights and the acceptance of the proposed bill has gone in the right direction.
“This bill is for the people of Plateau State. We are very determined to make sure that this bill sees the light of day,” Gyang said.
“Women contribute significantly to family wealth and development, yet traditions deprive them of inheritance. This law will correct that imbalance and promote societal growth,” he added.
Hon. Wallangko added that the bill would be a solution to long-standing societal issues that had caused bad blood in families across the state.
“This particular bill will solve a lot of issues that have bedevilled our society; by the time it is enacted, it will be binding on all of us,” Wallangko noted.
In his reaction, Special Adviser on Social Welfare to the Governor, Esther Simi Dusu said the bill is a pathway to emancipation and empowerment of women.
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