TQM report,
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) have commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for signing the State Disability Bill into Law and the appointment of a person with disability as Senior Special Adviser Disability Matters in line with the provision of law.
In a press release signed by the Senior Program Officer, CCD, Kola Ogunbiyi, the group received with excitement the news of the passage of the Ekiti State Disability Law which signifies total adoption of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 which prohibits discrimination and other harmful practices against persons with disabilities.
The group also commended the Speaker and members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Ekiti State and the Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on SDGs as well as organisations of persons with disabilities in Ekiti State for the coordinated efforts to secure the passage of the Ekiti State Disability bill.
With the passage of this bill by Ekiti State Government, the state has joined States like: Lagos, Anambra, Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Jigawa, and Bauchi States on the list of progressive but disability friendly State.
It would be recalled that during the implementation of CCD’s project on Access to Healthcare Services for Persons with Disabilities in Ekiti State, a project which was supported by Disability Rights Fund, (DRF), CCD had interface with line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), particularly the Office for Disability Affairs Ekiti State on the need to have a legal framework that will enhance access, participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in development agenda in the state.
The group is also excited that the administration of Governor Fayemi with the signing of the Law has moved disability issues from charity-based approach to a right based approach. This gesture will reduce barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the state to operate on equal basis with others.
They believe that the appointment of a person with disability as Senior Special Adviser on Disability Matters will help to hasten the full implementation of the Law in the state having already established Office for Disability Affairs before earlier.
The group reassured the Ekiti State government, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders their willingness to provide technical support for the operationalization of the Law in the State to address the attitudinal, environmental and structural barriers that could impede the full implementation of the Law.
They congratulated all persons with disabilities in Ekiti State for attaining this height in the struggle for an inclusive society in the State.
