By Joshua Weng Chuwang
The Benue State Government, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has assented to the Benue State Disability Rights Law, marking its commitment to promoting and including persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The bill, which was assented to on August 29, 2025, as an Executive Bill, demonstrates the Governor’s unwavering dedication to ensuring that all citizens, irrespective of ability, gender, or class, are treated with equality, fairness, and opportunity.
This law establishes the Benue State Disability Rights Commission, a statutory body empowered to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, guarantee accessibility, and ensure adequate representation of PWDs in various institutions.
The Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) played an instrumental role in coordinating Civil Society Organizations in Benue State to mobilize stakeholders and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities in the State.
Prior to this development, several leading disability rights-based non-governmental organizations appealed to the State Government and tasked stakeholders to monitor its active implementation.
Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI) and the Joint National Association for Persons with Disability (JoNAPwD), Benue Chapter, appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to swiftly assent to the Benue State Disability Rights Law, which was passed by the Benue State House of Assembly to cater to the interests of persons with disabilities, who form a significant proportion of the State’s population (15%).
The law provides for accessible and inclusive education for every child with a disability and affordable healthcare for persons with disabilities. It also stipulates a 5% employment quota for PWDs and safer, more accessible public spaces.
