Voice of Disability Initiative, one of the leading disability rights advocacy organization in Nigeria with support and funding from Disability Rights Fund (DRF) an international promoting the rights of persons with disabilities globally and headquartered in Boston USA, on Thur 23rd March 2023, paid an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Justice Nasarawa State.
Mr. Okoroafor Alexander Uchechukwu speaking at the event said that the aims and objectives of the visit is to secure the Ministry’s buy-in and commitments to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities while pushing for effective implementation of the provisions of the Nasarawa State Disability Law.
Speaking on the implementation of the Nasarawa State disability law, a member of VDI Team Barr Mary Musa said that the law allows for a 5 years transition period in which ministries, departments, agencies, and public institutions to comply with the requirements of the law especially in ensuring accessibility of their buildings and providing the 5% disability slot in the area of employment.
She also explained the need for the Nasarawa State government to insure access to health for the disability community especially women and girls with disabilities.
She narrated two stories of women and girls with disabilities who went to the hospitals for natal care but instead of safe delivery, they lost their babies due to inaccessible infrastructure and communication.
She also talked on the need to provide accessible transportation and access to quality education for persons with disabilities so that they could live normal lives and participate fully and effectively in the society.
She added that person’s with disabilities are not a homogeneous group and so have need specific needs which should be attended to according to their different disability cluster.
Failure to comply with these provisions after 5 years allows an affected person with disability instigate a legal action against the erring cooperations or individuals to the tune of 1 Million naira (for organizations) and N100 thousand naira (for individuals) respectively.
She further mentioned that it is the desire of the Team to see the law is implemented.
Mrs. Asaba Averson, a member of the VDI Team expressed her displeasure over slow pace of activities within the Disability commission, stating that when individuals without disabilities are put in charge of the affairs of PWDs, the results are always not encouraging.
“The commission currently has no accessible building, not a single one since it’s establishment, but yet we are been told that efforts are in place, for how long?” she complained.
She further mentioned that advocacy for accessibility should start from the Disability commission as a good example for others to follow.
The Commissioner of Justice Professor Abdulkarim Kanae in his speech expressed his interest in the well-being of persons with disabilities and in compliance to the provisions of the Disability law.
He said the Ministry has employed a lawyer Barr Abdul Elayo, as one of the staff of the ministry, reacting to the complaints from Mrs. Averson, the commissioner gave a copy of the Nasarawa State disability law to Barr. Abdul Elayo to familiarize himself with it and follow through with the provisions therein and ensure its full implementation. The Commissioner said he doesn’t like the location of the Disability Commission being so close to the INEC office which is prone to election/thugs attack, civil protests, and demonstrations. He instructed Mrs. Averson who works at the civil service office to meet with the Head of the Civil service and write to the SSG Nasarawa State requesting for change of location for the Disability Commission and they should copy him so he can follow up.
Speaking on how inclusive Nasarawa State is, he mentioned the immediate past Governor Hon. Tanko Al-Makura and his accomplishments during his term which include the establishment of 3 standard special schools in Nasarawa State that offers free comprehensive education to all its students. He ended his address by saying that these disability-friendly practices set up by the ex-Governor are also maintained and sustained by all government agencies and institutions in Nasarawa State.
Buttressing the need for the advocacy visit, Mr. Okoroafor related the incidence of an 89year old blind woman who was serially raped by a politician seeking fortification and he not only rapped her, he also inserted dangerous objects into the woman’s private part in an attempt to finish her up but thankfully he was apprehended and justice was served.
Mr. Okoroafor also mentioned the case of a 15-year-old deaf girl who was gang raped in Obi local government of Nasarawa State. He cited VDI’s effort on the case and the need to follow up and ensure justice is done.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice on hearing that the last incident happened in Nasarawa State immediately called a division of Nasarawa State Police command, and they confirmed the incident stating that preliminary investigations are ongoing, he also assigned the Chairperson of FIDA who is also in charge of the GBV response team to carry out proper findings and keep him updated on the case.
He promised to do the needful to all that is enshrined in the Nasarawa State Disability law.
