The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and other stakeholders have urged the Edo State government to establish a disability commission as mandated by the state’s 2022 Disability Rights Law.
The call was made during a Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Accountability Frameworks for the Post-Moratorium Cycle of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, supported by Ford Foundation.
Ann Ojugu, Chairperson of JONAPWD in Edo, described the creation of the commission as both a legal requirement and a moral necessity.
She emphasized that the commission would play a critical role in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) across 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.
He expressed frustration that, more than six years after the federal Disability Act was signed into law, PWDs continue to face exclusion.
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.
Imonitie Omokhodion, representing the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RuLAC), lamented the slow pace of implementing disability laws at both national and state levels.
Omokhodion, however, urged the disability community never to relent in their advocacies so as to ensure its wishes were attended to by the government.
Omokhodion further 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 that as a disability-friendly person, he would attend to the group’s request for budgetary allocation for disability matters and others.
Panel discussions at the event featured participants advocating for a more inclusive society, free from discrimination against PWDs in areas like education, healthcare, and employment. The dialogue underscored the need for actionable steps to ensure the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities are upheld in Edo State.