By TQM Report,
DAVID Anyaele, the Executive Director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) on Monday urged the Lagos State Government to strengthen the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs.
Anyeale made this known in a comprehensive report by CCD at the Lagos State Disability Law Summit organised by the CCD, in collaboration with LASODA with support from The Ford Foundation.
The summit had as its theme: ” Our Lagos, Our Disability Report 2020″ – An Assessment Of Compliance toLagos State Disability Law By Public And Private Institutions”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was put together to address some of the challenges of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
The event was also part of activities for CCD to secure commitment and learn best practices among line Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Lagos State on Lagos State Special People’s Law.Anyaele said:
“Beyond the passage of the Lagos State Special People’s Law, the State Government should strengthen the capacity and capability of LASODA.“
To ensure monitoring of compliance with the provisions of the law, to ensure full protection for the rights of PWDs in the state.
“The State Governor should, as matter of urgency, make disability funds accessible to LASODA to enhance their operations and smoothen responses to the emergency needs of PWDs especially during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
“A new board should be inaugurated for LASODA to speed up the implementation of the Lagos State Special People’s Law (LSSPL) and other related matters to the Lagos State Legislators”.
He noted that persons with disabilities were widely recognised as vulnerable members of society who suffer discrimination, stigmatisation, deprivation, denial of rights and exclusion among others.
According to him, the objectives of the assessment is to evaluate the extent of compliance with the law by both public and private institutions“ The objective of this assessment is to identify the challenges of enforcing the law .
“It is also to know the measures by LASODA to address them, to also aggregate proposals by persons with disabilities for improvements in the law and its implementation and enforcement,” Anyaele said.
Also speaking, Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima, the Acting Regional Director and a Programme Officer, Ford Foundation Office, West Africa, based in Lagos, identified inequality as a cause and consequence of social exclusion which affects PWDs mostly.
Dabesaki said that existing policies on PWD in Lagos should be implemented, adding that more should be done at the national level.
“I want to congratulate CCD for putting this together and I also want to commend Lagos State on their policies on PWDs.“
The state has policies on disability; the state should show good example by implementing them,” he said.
According to him, Ford Foundation is doing a lot to address the issue of inequality in the country and around the globe.“
In Ford Foundation, we intentionally invest in disability to amplify the voices of PWDs and integrate disability issues across the world, as a way to highlight integration to disability rights across various issues.“
This is why policy analysis, which needs to be implemented, is also part of what we are into,” he said.
Also, Mr Lanre Ogundairo, the General Manager of LASODA, commended CCD for putting the programme together to address challenges faced by PWDs.
Ogundairo called for more collective response to help enhance the quality of lives of PLWDs.
NAN reports that Anyaele, the Executive Director of CCD , was given an award by LASODA for humanitarian and selfless service for the rights of persons with disabilities.
