TQM report,
Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and its allies on the Access Nigeria Campaign join the rest of the world to recognize the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
In a press release signed by the Executive Director of IFA and Convener of Access Nigeria Campaign, Grace Jerry, the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and its allies on the Access Nigeria Campaign leverages the Day to advocate for change on PWDs issues, especially improved implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018.
“This year’s IDPD theme is “Leadership and Participation towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”. The focus is to ascertain PWDs inclusion through the provision of adequate systems, structures, and processes that accommodate PWDs access to and participation in public life on an equal basis with other citizens. Importantly, is to consider the impact of COVID-19 on PWDs and chart a way towards recovery. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world with PWDs among the worst affected groups. The health, economic and other consequences of the pandemic negatively impacted the political and socio-economic wellbeing of PWDs”.
They highlighted some issues about PWDs in Nigeria such as:
Social Protection Policies and Governance
“Nigeria has approximately 30 million PWDs or 15 percent of the country’s estimated 200 million population. IFA and other Organization of Persons With Disabilities (OPDs) successfully advocated for the passage/enactment of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018″.
“The effective implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 holds the key to helping PWDs recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, part five of Act empowers the Commission to implement policies that would improve education and healthcare for PWDs, while part six empowers them to create employment opportunities for PWDs and ensure their participation in politics. If implemented, the Act has great potential to address the political and socio-economic challenges of PWDs which were either caused or exacerbated by COVID-19”.
Electoral Participation of PWDs
“Due to the advocacy efforts of IFA and other OPDs, electoral accessibility for PWDs in Nigeria is improving. While progress is being made, challenges remain. Election observation reports from the 2021 off-cycle governorship election in Anambra state shows that there were improvements in many of the areas where IFA and other OPDs conducted advocacy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders.
Below is the analysis of election observation data from IFA’s polling unit accessibility audits in the just concluded elections in Anambra state:
Anambra governorship election, November 6, 2021
- Access Nigeria observers reported that 54 percent of the routes (roads) leading to the areas where sampled polling units were located were inaccessible for PWDs.
- Observer reports also showed that there were neither ramps nor handrails for use by PWDs outside the sampled polling units at 94 percent of voting locations.
- Observers reported that there were no ramps and handrails inside 90 percent of sampled polling units for use by voters with disabilities.
Internal Polling Unit Layout
- At 54 percent of sampled polling units, Access Nigeria observers reported that it was difficult for voters with disabilities to enter the polling units and vote. This was largely due to barriers like corridors and steps. Similarly, at 49 percent of sampled polling units, the internal layout made it difficult for voters with disabilities to participate in accreditation and voting.
Polling Unit Materials
- Observers reported that the Braille ballot guide was not deployed at 54 percent of sampled polling units.
- The height of the ballot box was not suitable for voters with disabilities, particularly for those who use wheelchairs, at 36 percent of sampled polling units.
- Form EC 40H was not available at 35 percent of sampled polling units to collect data of voters with disabilities who voted on Election Day.
- At 46 percent of polling units, the INEC Form EC 30E PWD was not pasted for use by voters with hearing impairments.
Election Day Procedures
- At 34 percent of sampled polling units, persons with disabilities were not given priority on the queue to vote.
- At 20 percent of polling units, voting with visual impairments or blindness used the Braille Ballot guide. This number showed that if the Braille ballot guide was available at more polling units, more visually impaired and blind voters would have been able to use it.
They recommended the following to help PWDs attain Leadership and Participation in 2022 and beyond:
- We urge governments to engage persons with disabilities in the democratic process, to combat discrimination and abuse, counter prejudice, and to protect their rights and ensure their inclusion in all facets of life on an equal basis with other people.
- We call on the government to speed up implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 to enable the communities of PWDs deploy their huge potentials, values, talents, and contributions to the country and global community.
- We call on the executive and National Assembly to ensure that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is fully funded in the 2022 appropriation bill, now being considered by the latter, and other budgets in the years to come.
- We call on all DPOs, PWDs, other Nigerian citizens and the international community to support the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in implementing policies that would help PWDs cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- We call on all Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs) responsible for implementing the Disability Act to develop policies that will ensure the implementation of the Disability Act.
- We urge the government to develop a PWD emergency national action plan to respond to the needs of PWDs during pandemic and beyond. Government and other relevant agencies should have an emergency preparedness plan before an outbreak particularly covering the needs of PWDs to avoid reactionary measures such as it occurred in the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
“Prominent recommendations in that report include making polling units more physically accessible for PWDs and collecting data of PWDs across Nigeria to enhance planning for PWDs during elections”.
The group will be holding a stakeholder’s roundtable on December 13, 2021 to build lead advocacy on the issues raised in this press statement, especially the need for improved electoral accessibility for PWDs and the need to effectively implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. We look forward to a robust engagement with government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), civil society organizations (CSOs), DPOs and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), media and other stakeholders during that engagement.
“IFA acknowledges the efforts that have been made by the different stakeholders in ensuring electoral accessibility of PWDs. We must also thank the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their unrelenting financial assistance for the Access Nigeria Campaign, National Democratic Institute (NDI) for their continued technical support and partnership. The Disability community is most grateful for their support. who solely funds our Access Nigeria Campaign”.
You will recall that the IDPD was proclaimed by United Nations (UN) through resolution 47/3 of 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of PWDs in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
