The Plateau State House of Assembly has given second reading to a landmark Bill seeking to protect and regulate the inheritance rights of women and girls in the state.
The Bill, titled “A Law to Provide for the Protection and Regulation of the Rights of Women and Girls in Plateau State to Inherit the Property, Benefits and Privileges of Deceased Husbands and Parents, and for Other Related Matters, 2025,” was read for the second time on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The bill is co-sponsored by the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick, Hon. Wallangko Sylvester and Hon. Eli Ankala Bako.
The proposed legislation aims to guarantee the rights of women and children to inherit the self-acquired property, benefits, and privileges of deceased husbands or parents who die intestate, in line with Section 42 (1 and 2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). While safeguarding constitutional rights, the Bill also seeks to preserve acceptable customary principles.
According to its sponsors, the Bill is designed to address long-standing discriminatory practices that have deprived widows and daughters of inheritance, often leaving them economically vulnerable and socially marginalized.
Key provisions of the Bill include the equitable distribution of estates among widows, children, parents, and siblings; prohibition of harmful customary practices that deny women and girls inheritance rights; and the establishment of clear dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Disputes arising from inheritance matters are to be mediated through the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, with jurisdiction vested in the High Court, Family Court, and Area Courts.
The Bill also introduces offences and penalties aimed at deterring unlawful disinheritance, estate mismanagement, and other related violations. In addition, it assigns roles to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, and other relevant agencies to carry out public sensitization, provide legal aid, and engage communities across the state.
Structurally, the Bill is divided into seven parts comprising 24 clauses. Part I covers preliminary provisions, while Part II establishes the primacy of the law over conflicting native customs. Parts III and IV address estate administration and distribution, respectively, while Part V focuses on dispute resolution. Parts VI and VII deal with offences, penalties, and miscellaneous matters.
If enacted, the law is expected to promote gender equality, enhance economic empowerment for women, provide legal clarity in inheritance disputes, and encourage cultural transformation toward respect for women’s rights in Plateau State.
Observers say the Bill represents a significant step toward strengthening family justice and aligning state laws with national and international human rights standards aimed at protecting women and other vulnerable groups.
During the plenary, another bill that seek to repeal and re-enact the Plateau State House of Assembly Service Commission (PLHSC) law and other related matters which was co-sponsored by Hon. Aliyu Adamu, Hon. Wallangko Sylvester, Hon. Ibrahim Galadima and Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick passed first reading.
