By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Bayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has signed the Widows and Widowers’ Protection bill 2015, into law.

This brings to 50, the total number of bills signed into law so far in the life of the administration.

Dickson, in Yenagoa, explained that the new law was designed to offer protection to the vulnerable group in society, particularly widows and widowers, against harmful cultural and traditional practices.

The governor commended Mrs. Agatha Goma for the sponsorship of the bill, noting that henceforth, marriage to a relation of a deceased spouse against the individual’s wish and compelling a widow or widower to do any of the several acts contained in the law would be considered unlawful.

He pointed out that women were most affected in some traditional practices, which he described as negative, stressing that the law seeks to offer protection to them.

“The Widows and Widowers’ Law of our state deals with a lot of negative cultural practices, particularly those affecting the womenfolk in our society. I like to appreciate the contributions of the member who sponsored this bill, Agatha Goma.

“We need to protect women, particularly those who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances because sometimes, our cultural practices are not friendly to widows who lose husbands and breadwinners. This bill has stepped in to offer some protection to them,” he said.