By: Abayomi Adeshida

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to seize the opportunity presented to him to establish the Nigerian Disabilities Commission to leave a legacy that would write his name in gold, create an indelible impression in the hearts of disabled Nigerians and documented in a Presidential Library.

He was also told that the same golden opportunity would grant him an indelible space in the hearts of over thirty-one million Nigerians living with disabilities; the rising numbers of almajiris, retiring senior citizens, and internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

These were part of the issues raised in a letter submitted by the Chairperson/Secretary; The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities,  Miss Omotunde Ellen Thompson, and signed by the President, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International Incorporation, Chief Eric Ndubueze, Ufom, President Buhari was however informed that the legacies he would leave behind might be negative if he fails to relieve the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq of her post.

In the lengthy document, the special citizens accused the Minister of having intelligently and willingly excluded their key officers from negotiations during the build-up to the establishment of the Commission which is most likely to bring up political jobbers that would sour the existing cordial relationship between the President and members of the group at home and in the diaspora.

According to them, “per the aforementioned, we humbly and respectfully, move to plead with you, to please use the remaining less than 3 years in office, to properly, shape how your history and LEGACY, should be truthful, told or written or presented and achieved by us and other Nigerian interest groups for the future generations of Nigerians and Nigerians with disabilities.

“This is because as soon as your term in office is over, you will lose total direct control over how we the Nigerians with Disabilities in the Diaspora and those based at home, will definitely start to truthful interpret, tell or write or document or achieve your true stories, history, and LEGACIES.

” We will definitely copy the same kinds of ways and standards, which were applied by our fellow Americans with Disabilities, whereby they successfully,  advocated, negotiated, and demanded truthful narratives and presentations of the longest-serving best United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Thank God that we directly participated during that time and must do the same when you retire”

Sir, please note that we will definitely build President Muhammadu Buhari’s Disability Museum and Monument and tell it all as it was, exactly the same ways like the U.S. President  Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial–Presidents: A Discover …  And at that time Sir, you and your family will not have any kind of direct or indirect control over our positive actions. “Therefore Sir, on behalf of Nigerians with Disabilities, we humbly and respectfully request from you to please use you’re remaining less than 3 years to do the right things for Nigerians with Disabilities, as was done by the President of the United States above for Americans with Disabilities.

“Please Sir, while considering this valid request, note that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, is the wrong person, that will truly represent you in duplicating and implementing the above.

“Sir, it’s sad that today, this June 12, 2020, Nigeria’s Democracy Day Celebrations, over 31 Million Nigerians with Disabilities, 15 Million Almajiris, millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), and millions of retired Nigerians, were knowingly or deliberately and intelligently, completely excluded from participating by the  Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, who failed to be truthful in implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), especially its,  Article 4 – General obligations (4.3) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda.

“Please Sir note that the  Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, knowingly or deliberately and intelligently has failed or refused, to be truthful in implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), especially its,  Article 4 – General obligations (4.3) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda for over 31 million Nigerians with Disabilities.

“The Nigerians with Disabilities Act (NDA), especially its Part VII, ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, clearly mandated on; “Section 31. (1), There is established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (in this Act referred to as “the commission” to be placed under the Presidency.”

” It is mandated in section, “32 (1) There is to establish a Governing Council for the Commission (in this Act referred to as the “the Council” which shall conduct the affairs of the commission.”

” Its mandate continued at sub-section, “(2) The Council shall consist of: (a) A part-time Chairman; (b) One persons with Disability from each geographical zone; (c) a representative each from Federal Ministry of; (i) Education, (ii) Health; (iii) Sports; (iv) Women Affairs; (v) Housing; (vi) Transport; (vii) Environment; (viii) Labour and Productivity; (ix) Justice; and (d) a representative each from the National Human Rights Commission and Planning Commission.”

” It’s mandatory Part VII, conclusion reads on section, “(3) The Chairman of the Council and one representative each from the 6 geo-political zones, shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

“Therefore Sir, you have observed that the Nigerians with Disabilities Act(NDA), which was knowingly or deliberately and intelligently, enacted, voted and passed into law by the 8th National Assembly, especially on its,  Part VII, ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, as clearly stated above, did not include, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Developments on the list of representing Federal Ministries.

‘Sir, please note also that the United States President Franklin Roosevelt founds March of Dimes – HISTORY, “In 1926, Roosevelt started the non-profit Georgia Warm Springs Foundation on the site of the springs he visited to partake of the waters’ therapeutic effects. Twelve years later, he reinvented the charity like the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP). The NFIP was a non-partisan association of health scientists and volunteers that helped found research for a polio vaccine and assisted victims on the long part through physical rehabilitation,” the group declared. Vanguardnews

Deaf women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) on Saturday 13th June, 2020 organized COVID-19 sensitization/Palliative Distribution for Deaf women at Keffi, Nasarawa State.

DWAI and her team sensitize and empower Deaf Women with information on COVID-19 pandemic especially on safe measures in a session that was conducted by Bar. Florence Marcus.

In the course of her presentation, it was discovered that majority of these women are less familiar with the issues of COVID-19 because they are within remote area where issues of COVID-19 were information dissemination is very poor. Imagine a simple questions like what is COVID-19? why are they wearing facemask or staying at home? one of them answered that they were staying at home because they saw everyone doing it and another said its to prevent further bad smell/odor from entering her body, other said her family told her nothing like COVID-19. So imagine about how some Deaf women living in remote area who can not place what COVID-19 is all about.

DWAI intervention came at the nick of time because they were able to successfully help them by exposing them to the practical demonstration aspect of COVID-19 pandemic on prevention measures and safe tips so that they can inform others and spread the truth about COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the whole world.

Apart from the COVID-19 preventive sensitization, DWAI also cushioned the effect of the lockdown on these deaf women with distribution of food items, hand sanitizers and hand washing soap to have them keep up to the personal hygiene measure of stay safe from COVID-19.

The Qualitative magazine learnt that all these were made possible through our supporters and partners.

With special thanks to the following individuals and organization;
Chidi Topaz Olujie Foundation (CTOF), Step to the top leadership Centre (STLC), Survive Fisula Healthcare, Foundation (SFHF), Focus on Disability Foundation Uk, Prince Ebuka Oguanya, Titilayo Meraiyebu Ogunbambi
, Chi Jenny Chibueze, Lois Auta, First Baptist church, keffi and Deaf Emir of keffi.

It will also interested for the public to know and note these women also need help in the area of empowerment especially on petty trade so that they would be able to take care of their children after the lockdown and majority of them were farmers and their movements to farm have been limited.

The Founder of DWAI, Hellen Udoye Beyioke-Alase said that it is the organisation’s hope to keep empowering these deaf women all over the states because DWAI believe in amplify their voice instead of perish in silent misery.

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Persons with disabilities in Cross River State have decried the non-establishment of National Commission for people with disabilities as its enshrined in Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

Speaking while receiving palliatives from Engr. Ben Akak Foundation, the Chairman of JONAPWD. Cross River State, Comrade Offiong Okon, lamented their neglect and poor conditions.

“We plead with federal government to establish the National Commission for Persons with disabilities. This has been what we have been hammering for a long time,” he said.

The people pointed out that federal government has established National Commission for Women, Youths Council but National Commission for People with Disabilities is not attended to.

Comrade Okon also called on the state governors across the country to establish disability deck in offices in all the local government areas across the country.

He explained that the National Commission and disability deck in offices would bring their problems to the fore with a view to getting them solved.

“We have been neglected for a very long time, nobody cares about us or fight for us, our situation was not caused by us,” the people stated.

By Onyinyechi Iheanacho

Yobe State Tasks Force on COVID-19, Sub-Committee on Palliatives distributed food items to hundreds of vulnerable households in Geidam LGA on Friday, 12th June, 2020.

About 8238 households are expected to benefit across the State.

The beneficiaries totalling over 300 households in Geidam include, the elderly, women headed households (WHH), Persons With Disabilities (PLWDs), Youth Headed household who are directly or indirectly affected by the pandemic lock down in Neighboring states and other associated challenges.

The Palliative distribution was flagged off by the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Dr. Abubakar Garba Iliya who was represented by the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr. Mohammed Goje at premises of Geidam Government Lodge, in Geidam town.

In his remark, Dr. Mohammed Goje, who was represented by SEMA’s field team leader, Mallam Musa Maza’un informed the beneficiaries that this is an ongoing support and within available resources of the government, and it will periodically reach out to the most vulnerable populace across the state.

The Community Development Officer of Geidam local government, Malam Aliyu Kaumi thanked Governor Mai Mala Buni for supporting the less privileged in the local government.

Each household received rice, maize, beans, vegetable oil and other condiments.

by Chris Agbo

Going by the recent passing of the Yobe State Board of Persons with Disabilities Affairs Bill by Yobe State House Assembly, Comrade Mohammed Abba Isa, APC Zonal Disable Leader Northeast, Yobe State have expressed optimism that Governor Mai Mala Buni will assent to the bill.

In his expression of joy and celebration statement to The Qualitative Magazine, he said that when the news broke out on 2nd June 2020 that Yobe State House of Assembly has concluded work and passed bill for the third time “the Yobe State Board of Persons with disabilities affairs bill”, the atmosphere became so tensed, charge with euphoria of happiness from all quarters of persons with disabilities in the state.  

“My phone was agog with traffic, leaders of persons with disabilities, friends from the media, CSOs and other partners in disability development agenda calling to authenticate the news” he said.

The story was indeed true going by the news from the state house of assembly.

“Judging from the prayers, optimism and shared beliefs on the spirit and letters of the said bill expressed by callers, I then realized that truly is a NEW DAWN for Persons  with Disabilities PWDs in Yobe State However, is not yet UHURU” he said.

“Hours gone by, I retired to my apartment to cool off but unfortunately I couldn’t because of concerns or questions from almost all callers that “DO YOU THINK GOV. MAI MALA WILL ASSENT TO THE BILL” my worry is not the question but what triggered the questions in the minds of these callers.” he worried.

Speaking further, he reaffirmed his confidence on His Excellency Mai Mala Buni that he knows him as someone who has Passion and Love for persons with disabilities both in the State and outside the state, knowing what he has done and still doing for persons with disabilities to reduce their sufferings.  His Excellency sees Humanity before disability, potentiality before limitation, Empathy before sympathy, optimism before pessimism and equality before discrimination. For these reasons, he said that he has no single doubt that His Excellency Mai Mala Buni the Master of inclusion as PWDs fondly call him in Yobe State will Sign the bill into law once the bill is transmitted to him.

He also said that one may wonder why he is so convinced that the governor will sign that bill; it is borne out of His governor’s attitude of being disability sensitive, conscious and inclusive. All his policies and programs have been disability inclusive and his personal experience engaging with His Excellency also fueled his strong conviction.

“For us persons with disabilities in Yobe State and by extension north eastern states remain indebted to Governor Mai Mala Buni but like Oliver twist we need more. We need a legal document that will guarantee sustainability of his good policies and programs for persons with disabilities in the State. We want an end to public discrimination and stigmatization of our members on the basis of disability, we need total inclusion, and we need empowerment and our potentials enhanced. We want to contribute our quota to the development of Yobe State and the gateway is SIGNING INTO LAW THE YOBE STATE BOARD OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BILL AFFAIRS BY His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni.” He concluded.

by Chris Agbo

Empower to Thrive Development Initiative on Saturday 13^th June, 2020 distributed bags of food items to 50 persons with disabilities in FCT.

Dr. Ima Chima, speaking on behalf of the group, said that it is essentially crucial at this time for us to look around our environment and provide succor for those who needed it most especially as the confirmed cases of COVID-19 according to NCDC has risen to over 14 thousand. 

While advising the persons with disabilities present on the preventive measures of COVID-19, she said that project is borne out of her desire to help those who cannot help themselves.

She informed that she have chosen persons with disabilities for this project because they are highly undervalued in our society.  In the course of her job as a medical doctor, She have seen many persons with disabilities even those with good education reduced to begging because of lack of opportunities, and it also extended to the exclusion of persons with disabilities in so many areas including food distribution even in this COVID-19 pandemic. Many persons with disabilities find it extremely difficult to feed because they have lost their means of livelihood due to the lockdown.

It is in view of this that the group engaged dedicated friends and partners who help them to fundraise to start providing food items for many persons with disabilities to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. The group also assured the persons with disabilities present that they are just the starting; saying that the exercise will be ongoing.

“Through much effort and collaboration with men and women of God, I am excited to say that we have begun a process of establishing this foundation that is dedicated for uplifting people who have been forgotten and ignored in the society,” She said.

She appreciated all those that contributed in one way or the other to ensure that the food distribution project become a reality and a success.

The Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) FCT Chapter, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Ujah appreciated the group for the kind gesture especially reaching out the persons with disabilities. He said that the gesture means a lot for persons with disabilities because some of them, this may be the only food in the house in the next week. He urged that group to join hands with persons with disabilities in improving their lives especially towards the implementation of Disability Act and other policies that gears towards improvement of the wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

Empower to Thrive Development Initiative is a non-government organization that seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable people including people with disabilities and build a better society. Their goal is to carry out charitable works and human empowerment initiative that will assist individuals and community in fulfilling their potentials and improving their overall well-being.      

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

by Chris Agbo

Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) on Thursday 11th June, 2020 in Abuja organized a stakeholders’ validation meeting on the findings on mapping of OPDs in the FCT.

It is part of DRAC’s policy to practice project (P2P) supported by the ROLAC program of the British Council and European Union, where a Mapping of OPDs was carried out in the FCT in order to determine their Capacity Development Needs with a view to strengthening them to provide basic information and services to women and girls with disabilities whose rights have been violated.

The Executive Director, DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu, in her opening remark said that P2P is to get all Nigerian laws and policies especially those relevant to persons with disabilities to begin to work for them and improve their access to justice. The project is also meant to address the issue of sexual and gender-based violence being experienced by women and girls with disabilities whose situation is further exacerbated by the low capacity of OPDs to promote and champion access to justice initiatives for women and girls with disabilities. A situation that has continued to result in their exclusion and inability to access justice.

She pointed out that OPDs are very important stakeholders in achieving this because whenever the rights of a person with disability is violated, their first port of call is Organization of Persons with Disabilities because they know them and trust them.

In view of this, DRAC saw the need to target Organizations of Persons with disabilities in order to strengthen their capacity to respond in appropriate manner to these cases of violations when reported to them. The OPDs should know what to do when they are approached with a case of rights violation by a person with disability. For example, OPDs should know basis of their rights, know how to counsel the person and also how to assist the person to get justice. It is based on the above reason that DRAC decided to start by mapping the OPDS, identifying them, their locations, knowledge and skills gaps and other institutional information that are necessary for designing a capacity building program that will enable them function effectively as first responders for the disability community and be more effective in the services that they render.

She expressed a desire to see OPDs be positioned as resource hubs, saying that OPDs should not exist only on paper or only to be invited to meetings, they should be able to provide services and push for the implementation of laws and policies to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Therefore, towards attaing the P2P project goals, the mapping of the OPDs has been concluded and the researchers who carried out the mapping through their findings have been able to identify the capacity gaps, status of the OPDs, challenges of the OPDs and highlight areas that OPDs capacity needs to be strengthened.    

The mapping consultant while presenting the findings expressed concern on the level at which a greater number of the OPDs lack the necessary capacity and registration requirement to get support from the development partners to carry out projects towards the implementation of the disability laws and policies.

The areas that the mapping looked at are: The Organizational Structure or governance structure of the OPDs, the status of registration of Organizations, level of compliance with relevant National and State Regulations and Legislations, OPDs awareness about legislation to promote disability rights and Access to Justice, organization area of coverage in FCT, Relationship between OPDs and other Stakeholders, MDAs and other NGOs and CSOs, Review of Project and Programmes Implementation of the OPDs and Assessment of OPDs Systems and Structures: Organizational Policies and Plans.

The consultant in his presentation, highlighted some areas of concern which needs urgent attention of the OPDs because they are of basic requirements OPDs if they are serious to mobilize resources to render services to the community of persons with disabilities. For example, the findings show that there are huge number of ODPs that doesn’t have important operational documents such as Child Protection Policy, Gender policy, Procurement policy, Financial policy, Human Resource Policy, Operational policy, Annual Plans and Strategic Plans. Without these documents, there is no way OPDs can get funding to carried out their activities. The result also revealed that 51.5% of the funding of the OPDs mapped are from their members and individual support which is insufficient if OPDs are to dispense their roles effectively.

Another concern arising from the findings is that OPDs level of compliance with relevant National and State Regulations and Legislations is low. Less than 5% of them has SCUML, less than 10% has Group life Assurance, less than 5% have arrangement for Staff pension, about 10% files their annual returns , less than 20% make effort to get their tax exemption certification annually, and good enough, over 60% of them have atleast one form of registration.  OPDs were advised to take all these compliance requirements seriously because without them, OPDs have slim chances of getting funding from development partners to carry out their projects and programmes.

The findings also showed that majority of the OPDs work on human rights and disability rights respectively while less attention is given to issues like Sexual and Gender Based Violence and HIV with 6.2% and 9.4% respectively. Their coverage on governance is 18.8%. OPDs were advised to show interest in HIV especially as it affects PWDs and SGBV because of its importance to women and girls with disabilities.

Another important finding is that majority of the OPDs mapped have their offices in AMAC, according to the facilitators, it is not good enough for the services OPDs render. Majority of persons with disabilities are in other area councils, he advised that OPDs should have contact offices in these area councils so that they can carry along PWDs in these areas in their projects and programmes.

The consultants expressed disappointment over the unwillingness of many OPDs speaking to their team during the mapping exercise. Out of 60 OPDs penciled down for the mapping, only 24 were mapped. Whereas the mapping sample was for 50 OPDs.

The report recommended the following: a) Put in place measures for improving the organizational capacity of OPDs, b) Further strengthen partnership between OPDs and other stakeholders, c) Encourage OPDs to comply with relevant national and state regulations and legislations and d) OPDs should be open to collaboration instead of competition

The Consultants also proposed a continuous updating of OPDs database which would be developed and linked with DRAC’s website in order to build a database of OPDs across the country to enhance collaboration and synergy in carrying out projects and programmes, this will make it easier to identify OPDs to collaborate with through the database.

The representatives of the OPDs at the meeting were elated and amazed at the level of omission in their operations. Lack of important policy documents and compliance to government regulations and legislations which has hampered their opportunity of getting funding. They commended DRAC for the initiative and promised to work with DRAC to improve their capacity and also make efforts to develop the relevant policy documents and also effort to acquire all the necessary compliance requirements of the government.

The participants were OPDs from different clusters of persons with disabilities.