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Legislators’ Wives Commit to Champion Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights

Published

10 months ago

September 3, 2025

vicky

Gender Commission Legislators’ Wives Property Inheritance Rights9

The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (PLASGEOC), in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025, held an advocacy engagement with wives of state legislators on the promotion of women’s housing, land, and property rights. The event took place at Crispan Hotel, Jos.

Delivering the welcome address, Barr. Nalong Gumut, Secretary of PLASGEOC, emphasized that the engagement was designed to deepen awareness and legislative support for women’s property rights, which are often undermined by cultural practices. “This gathering seeks to provide solutions and legislative actions to alleviate the suffering caused by discriminatory practices that deprive women and girls of access to land and housing,” he said.

In her keynote speech, Acting Chairperson of PLASGEOC and Special Adviser to the Governor, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, described the plight of women in the state as heartbreaking. She explained that although national laws and Supreme Court judgments recognize women’s rights to inheritance and property, cultural barriers still deny them access. She urged the legislators’ wives to use their influence to drive change.
“Land is not just soil, and property is not just structure. For many women, these are the foundations of security, livelihood, and dignity. Your voices as wives of legislators are powerful enough to push for local legislation that reflects our realities here in Plateau State,” she stated.

Barr. Nandi Dale, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance Officer at NRC, presented findings from a 2023 Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) survey conducted in Shendam, Bokkos, and Riyom LGAs. He revealed that widows and divorced women remain the most vulnerable, often evicted or excluded from inheritance despite statutory protections. “Law reform, awareness, and inclusive dispute resolution are urgent steps needed to protect women’s housing, land, and property rights,” Dale said.

Also speaking, NRC Consultant, Obioma Ngozi Achilefu (Esq.), explained the draft inheritance bill being developed for Plateau State. He stressed that the bill was not intended to uproot cultural values but to correct harmful practices. “The aim of this bill is not to dismantle traditions but to prune customs where they trample on individual rights,” he noted.

In a goodwill message, Mrs. Mercy Naanlong Daniel, Wife of the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, assured the commission of their support. “We occupy a unique position as wives of legislators, and we are ready to partner with the commission. We will encourage our spouses to prioritize policies that protect women’s rights,” she pledged.

Similarly, Mrs. Naanpoe Joseph Bukar, wife of the Shendam constituency representative, commended the timeliness of the advocacy. “This engagement has given me more knowledge on how to support my husband in prioritizing bills that encourage justice and fairness for women in our society,” she said.

During the interactive session, participants shared personal experiences and raised concerns about cultural norms, inheritance conflicts, and challenges with next-of-kin documentation. They emphasized the need for continued awareness campaigns and workshops to equip women with knowledge on property rights and inheritance.

The session ended with a renewed commitment from legislative wives to serve as advocates and partners in promoting women’s housing, land, and property rights across Plateau State.

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News

‘I will continue to criticise Ebonyi govt where necessary’ – PDP guber candidate

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Preport

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ebonyi, Chief Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed allegations by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Mr Chinedu Ogah, that he has been sponsoring cyberbullying campaigns against Ebonyi government.

Odii, also known as “AnyiChuks” in a statement to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, described the allegation as baseless and an attempt to criminalise legitimate criticism and divert attention from issues of governance in the state.

He maintained that demanding accountability from elected public officials was a constitutional right of citizens and should not be misconstrued as cyberbullying or cyberstalking.

“Since when did asking questions become cyberbullying? Since when did demanding a scorecard become cyberstalking?” Odii asked.

He noted that Ebonyi people deserved to know how public resources allocated to the state had been utilised, insisting that citizens had the right to demand transparency and good governance.

According to him, criticism of government policies and performance is an essential feature of democracy and should not be interpreted as an attack on any individual.

The PDP governorship candidate also denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register underage voters, describing the accusation as reckless, defamatory and without evidence.

He urged the lawmaker to forward any evidence in his possession to the appropriate security agencies instead of making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations in the media.

The PDP candidate pledged to continue criticising the government in areas requiring improvement and commend it where it performs well.

Odii added that he would continue to advocate transparency, accountability and inclusive development, stressing that responsible opposition was vital to democratic governance.

Odii said he would not be intimidated into silence, adding that the people of the state would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah, at a press conference recently accused Odii of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the Ebonyi government led by Governor Nwifuru

Health

Yobe govt approves health insurance enrolment for retirees

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Preport

The Yobe State Government has approved the enrolment of state and local government retirees into the Social Equity Programme of its health insurance scheme.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), Babagana Tijjani, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Damaturu.

Mr Tijjani said the approval was granted by Governor Mai Mala Buni following a recommendation from the agency.

He said the initiative aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending among pensioners and improve access to comprehensive, quality healthcare services at YSCHMA-accredited health facilities.

According to him, the approval underscores the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees by ensuring they continue to access quality healthcare after retirement.

“This approval is another demonstration of the governor’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents of the state,” he said.

“By bringing retirees under the social equity programme, the government is ensuring that senior citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.”

The executive secretary further said that the inclusion of retirees in the scheme aligned with the administration’s healthcare reform agenda and the state’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

He also described the development as a significant step in expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social protection.

READ ALSO: Yobe, Adamawa tighten security to curb illegal mining

Mr Tijjani commended the governor for approving the initiative and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its effective implementation.

He said the YSCHMA would work closely with pension unions, relevant government institutions and healthcare providers to ensure a transparent enrolment process and seamless access to healthcare services for eligible beneficiaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the YSCHMA was established under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019 to implement the state’s contributory healthcare scheme and promote equitable, affordable and qualitative healthcare services for residents.

(NAN)