Benue State has taken a bold step into history with the signing of the Benue State Persons with Disabilities Rights Commission Law, 2025 by Governor Hyacinth Alia on Friday, August 29th, 2025.
With this landmark decision, the state has officially moved from years of advocacy into a new era where the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are no longer just demands but are now legally recognized and protected.
The new law establishes the Benue State Persons with Disabilities Rights Commission, a body empowered to enforce disability rights, address discrimination, promote accessibility, and ensure full inclusion of PWDs across all sectors of life in the state.
For decades, disability rights activists and organizations have tirelessly pushed for stronger legal backing to guarantee equal opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, politics, and public participation. Friday’s assent by Governor Alia represents the culmination of these struggles and the dawn of a new future.
“This is more than just a law — it is a victory for humanity, justice, and inclusion,” disability advocates in Benue declared, celebrating the signing as a breakthrough that would transform lives and dismantle systemic barriers faced by the disability community.
Supporters of the law, including the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), National Endowment For Democracy (NED) and several civil society groups, hailed the development as a model for other states across Nigeria, emphasizing that disability rights are rights, not charity.
With this milestone, Benue joins the growing list of progressive states in Nigeria aligning with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, bringing hope to thousands of citizens living with disabilities.
As the celebration continues, one message stands clear:
Benue has proven that when advocacy meets political will, history is made.
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