The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards supporting grieving spouses by passing a bill for a second reading. This bill aims to provide a designated period of leave for individuals to mourn the loss of their spouse.

Proposed by Rep. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi from Niger State, the bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to make Provision for Widowhood Leave,” seeks to offer both men and women the opportunity to mourn the passing of their spouse and make necessary arrangements for the future.

According to the bill, widows would be entitled to a five-month widowhood leave, while widowers would receive one month of leave with full pay. The scope of the bill extends to employees in both the public and private sectors across the country.

During the plenary session on Tuesday, Rep. Abdullahi emphasized the profound impact of losing a partner and the need for a dedicated period to grieve. He highlighted the existing cultural and religious practices that often dictate mourning periods, particularly for women, and stressed the importance of formalizing this process through legislation.

Supporting the bill, Rep. Ademorin Kuye shared a personal anecdote, recalling his mother’s experience when his father passed away during their childhood. He recounted how she had to resign from her job to observe the mourning period, underscoring the challenges faced by grieving spouses without official support.