Upon resumption of plenary on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022, the Edo State House of Assembly enacted a Bill for a Law to ensure the full integration of persons with disabilities into society and the establishment of its Commission.
The Bill passed its second and third reading after the presentation of the report by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Business and Government House, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo, member representing Ikpoba Okha constituency in Edo State.
The House soon after dissolved into a Committee of the whole to deliberate on the findings and the one-point recommendation.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun said the House was eager to pass the all-important bill as he commended the Committee for a well-detailed and thorough report.
The Bill is aimed at protecting individuals with disabilities, prohibiting all forms of discrimination, as well as formulating appropriate policies and modalities for the educational and social development of persons with disabilities.
The Law is to be cited as the Edo state Disability Law 2022. The Speaker thereafter requested that clean copies of the Bill be sent to the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki for his assent.
Reacting to this development, Grace Jerry Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), commends the Edo State Assembly for swift action to domesticate the Disability Law in Edo State.
“We accolade the Edo State Assembly for the accelerated reading and passage of the Edo State Disability Law to the Governor for Assent. Indeed, beyond doubt, Edo Legislatures are inclusive friends. I’m glad our advocacies alongside efforts by OPDs like @Napvid and the @State JNDPWD are yielding pleasant results.
“We implore the Governor to yield to our call and honor the recommendations we shared in the ‘Priority Policies and Disability Inclusion Agenda’ for the State, and pass the State Disability Law without hesitation. I believe the priority policy will fashion fit the implementation of the law if signed by Governor Obaseki”.
Jerry stated this via her Twitter handle @gracejjerry on Friday
