by Agbo Chris
On Monday, 13th Centre for Citizens with Disabilities begins the weeklong line up of activities for the first commemoration of the passage of Nigeria Disability Act with an interactive Forum with Media Executives.
The event saw in attendance editors and senior reporters from well-known media organizations both print and electronic media such as AIT, NTA, ClearView TV, Guardian Newspaper, News Telegraph, Vanguard Newspaper etc. The Qualitative Magazine, the foremost disability advocacy magazine was also at the event.
The Executive Director, David Anyaele in his speech emphasized on the importance of the media to ensure that Disability Act is implemented. He said that it took 18 years of struggle before the act is achieved because the persons with disabilities didn’t get the full support of the media. Even the reporters who were involved struggled to report the issues properly. He said that the media primary duty is to hold government accountable therefore there is a need for the collaboration with media if the act will be implemented.
Speaking further, he recognized that private sponsored bill when it is passed into law, the state always struggle to implement it so it is not a surprise that National Commission for Persons with disabilities was not captured in the newly passed budget and also the silence of the state actors toward it was an indication that there is no plan for creation of the Commission. The honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management and Social Development during the International Day of Persons with disabilities promised that they will create the commission and implement the act. This is one year of the enactment of the act; we have not seen anything. Therefore, for us to achieve this implementation, we must move in trenches, we will engage all stakeholders state and non-state actors to propel the government to do the needful. However, we may not achieve that if the stakeholders are not aware of the provisions of the act. The section 2 of the act provides that The Federal Ministry of Information will be responsible for awareness creation but it is unfortunate that up till date, Honourable Minister of Information Chief Lai Mohammed is yet to make a comment about the act.
He went on to inform that in the course of the week, there will be engagement of different stakeholders, the decision to start with the media is because the media agenda for discussion in any society and if we are to achieve the implementation of this act, we must have the media buy into it.
He said that the media have challenge on the right terminologies for reportage, and not knowing the right way to approach disability issues so it is pertinent that the media capacity is built in disability issues to enable them set agenda that will enhance the implementation of the act.
He proposed that every 17th January should be recognized as the National Day for Disability to draw up conversation and consciousness on the disability issues.
The media practitioners agree to do more in holding government accountable in the implementation of disability
The Qualitative Magazine recalls that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Act, 2018 was signed into Law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Jan. 17, 2019.
CCD is the organization at the forefront of the advocacy which lead to the enactment of National Disability Act and they are working assiduously ensure the implementation of National Disability Act.
The event will continue on Tuesday will Friday with engagement of Civil society groups, line ministries, departments and agencies and National Assembly committees and on Friday, there will be a road show /walk to create awareness on National Disability Act.
