By 
By Usman Aliyu
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and other stakeholders have called on the Edo government to establish a disability commission in line with the state’s 2022 Disability Rights Law.
They made the call in Benin during a Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Accountability Frameworks for the Post-Moratorium Cycle of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, funded by Ford Foundation.
Ann Ojugu, Chairperson of JONAPWD in Edo, emphasised that setting up the commission was both a legal obligation and a moral imperative.
She noted that the commission, once established, would serve as a vital institution for championing the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
The commission, she said, must be headed by a member of the disability community, who would be familiar with the peculiar needs of the PWDs.
“The establishment of this commission is not just about fulfilling legal requirements. It is about ensuring inclusivity, equity, and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in governance and development,” Ojugu said.
The JONAPWD chairperson explained that the commission would be instrumental in driving policies that address key issues such as accessibility to public infrastructure, employment opportunities, and equal representation in decision-making processes.
Corroborating the call, Mr Abdullahi Usman, the President of JONAPWD sought an end to the discrimination against PWDs in Nigeria, frowning that more than six years after the signing of the Disability Act at the federal level, PWDs were still being excluded.
According to him, most public buildings such as schools, hospitals and transport are inaccessible to the PWDs.
“What we are canvassing for is not much. We want to enjoy what persons without disabilities are enjoying,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Imonitie Omokhodion of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RuLAC), rued the slow implementation of the law at both national and state levels.
He, however, urged the disability community never to relent in their advocacies so as to ensure its wishes were attended to by the government.
Omokhodion said RuLAC had been supporting the Organisations of PWDs in the state for state, which saw to the enactment of the disability law.
In his address, Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, promised to work with the community to ensure the implementation of the key provisions of the law.
Agbebaku, who was represented by his Chief of Staff,Odike Iroube, said as a disability friendly person, he would attend to the request of the group on budgetary allocation for disability matters and others.
Participants at the various panel discussions canvassed for more inclusive society, non-discriminatory of the PWDs in education, health and employment opportunities, among others. (NAN)
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