TQM report,
The Disability Organization at the forefront of the advocacy for the enactment of National Disability Law, Centre For Citizens With Disabilities (CCD) on Tuesday in Abuja as part of the activities of the commemoration of the second anniversary of passage of the National Disability Act engaged MDAs on the implementation of the act.
The Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele in his opening speech said that the meeting coincided with the 22 years Anniversary of his limbs loss and he narrated a touching story on how on the 19th of January 1999, the RUF rebels chopped off his hands because he is a Nigerian and Nigeria government was supporting ECOMOG Peace Keeping in Freetown, Sierra leone.
He went further to narrate how they actually chopped up his hands and how he survived the incident. (Details, TQM will share with you in another report).
Speaking further, Mr. Anyaele said that Nigeria government over the years have not been fair to persons with disabilities, he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the act as well as establishing a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
He said that the essence of the annual event which was supported by ROLAC is to sustain the struggle for the full implementation of the act, mobilizing all the relevant stakeholders to understand their the roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the act. It will provide opportunities for CCD, Leaders of Disability Community and Organizations of persons with disabilities(OPDs) to engage different stakeholders to remind and educate them of the roles and responsibilities in the implementation of National Disability Act.
He informed that the First Anniversary was successful because the group was able to establish contact with office of the Vice Presidency, Secretary to The Government of The Federation(SGF).
“You would recall how we went to the SGF to demand for the establishment of Disability Commission”
The group also secured the commitment of the SGF which The Permanent Secretary present at the dinner held to close the weeklong event offered to work with the group to actualize the establishment of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. The group also engaged with the media executives which increased the rate of interest and reportage on disability issues to support the implementation of the act.
The group also got the commitment of diplomatic communities, the high commissioners present and representatives made robust contributions and commitments to ensure the implementation of the act.
He regretted that the impact of COVID-19 Lockdown affected taking the full advantage of the recommendations and opportunities that event provided.
He said that in spite of the COVID-19 challenges, the group recorded some successes, today, PWDs are in joyous mood that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities have been established and graciously, a person with disability from Deaf Community, Mr. James Lalu is the Executive Secretary. Mr. James Lalu was also part of the event brainstorming to see how the act can be implemented.
He thanked Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila , the speaker, Federal House of Representatives for his commitment towards ensuring the full implementation of disability act by setting up a committee on disability matters chaired by Hon. Mariam Onuoha, a well committed lawmaker towards disability issues.
He lamented that line ministries are not committed to the implementation of act despite President Muhammadu Buhari JUNE12 address which states that “I have directed all government agencies to pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes and where suitable the employment. It is worrisome that some ministries such as aviation and transport are implementing their policies and programmes excluding persons with disabilities. PWDs were excluded in the aviation guidelines on COVID-19 and the recent harassment and abuses of PWDs by airline operators without any statement from the aviation ministry to protect PWDs showed that the ministry have no regard for PWDs.
He called on the aviation minister to take measures to address the issues relating to the abuse of PWDs in the airports, the airports belongs to all Nigerians including PWDs. A situation whereby we do not have wheelchair lifters in our airports in a country of 200million people is highly unacceptable.
He urged the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to serve as an attacking dog for PWDs and get Federal Agencies to understand their roles towards the implementation of disability act.
He expressed his displeasure over the 2021 appropriation made by National Assembly for the Disability Commission, less than 2billion naira for a Commission that would be handling the issues of close to 30 million Nigerians with disabilities is far to be desired.
He joined his voice with others to call on Mr. President to comply Federal Agencies like Aviation to implement National Disability Act.
He also call for more corporation between PWDs and National Assembly through establishment of Disability Office in the National Assembly to enhance PWDs participation, visit and presence at NASS. The Office should be able to make provision of materials and otherwise for seamless engagement of PWDs and National Assembly.
He implored on OPDs to support the National Commission because there is no other better time to push for the implementation of the act other than this time. He said that CCD is committed to mobilize resources from local and international partners to ensure that the commission succeeds.
He was excited that the meeting provided opportunity for stakeholders to come together look at their gains and areas that they need improvement and he informed that the outcome of the discussion should be documented and share with relevant agencies and organizations.
He said that the 2nd Anniversary is yet another opportunity to engage policy makers, MDAs, Facility Owners like Hotels, Parks, Gardens, Shopping Malls etc, and also professional groups to discuss the access to public infrastructures in Nigeria, which is a big issue, it would be on the front-burner until it is achieved.
He recognized that the celebration is not as elaborate as 1st anniversary due to COVID-19, he apologized to many others who should have been present but they joined the celebration via zoom.
The meeting witnessed the presence of The House Committee Chairman on Disability matters, Hon. Mariam Onuoha, The Executive Secretary of National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James Lalu, Theophilus Odaudu, The Program Coordinator, Disability Rights Fund (DRF), Prof. Jibrin Isa Diso , a blind senior lecturer of Bayero University, Kano, a representative of National Human Rights Commission and leaders of disability community drawn from different clusters.
There were goodwill messages from DRF, National Human Right Commission, and remark from Prof. Jibrin Isa Diso.
The meeting was very interactive, achievements and roadmap of the commission was presented by The Executive Secretary. The House Committee Chairman read out what she intend to achieve and seeks the support of the disability (The details of their statements would be published in our subsequent reports).
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
