The Advocacy for Disability Act Cluster (ADAC), a coalition of CSOs working towards the domestication of the Disability Act in Nigeria lauds the emergency of Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley as the Speaker of the Adamawa State 8th Assembly. Hon. Wesley who represents the Hong Constituency was re-elected into the 8th Assembly in the just concluded 2023 House of Assembly elections and has today 13 June 2023 been elected as the speaker by members of the House.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and ADAC Anchor, Ms. Grace Jerry, congratulated Hon. Bathiya Wesley on his new position as the 8th Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, calling him “an inclusive friend who has promised to expedite the domestication of the Disability Act in the state”. Ms. Jerry further promised Hon. Wesley the support of the PWD community and noted in particular that “the ADAC looks to continue our constructive and meaningful partnership with the Adamawa State 8th Assembly to ensure that Adamawa state joins the prestigious league of disability-inclusive states in Nigeria”.
Recall that earlier in May, Ms. Jerry led the ADAC Coalition on an advocacy visit to the Adamawa state House of Assembly to convey to members of the House, including Hon. Bathiya, the need to work with the Coalition to ensure the domestication of the Disability Act in the state.
Ms. Jerry further thanked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and SCALE Palladium for supporting the ADAC project. The Advocacy for Disability Act cluster (ADAC) is implementing the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) through Palladium with support from USAID.
