The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has commenced the distribution of Palliatives to her members.

The Palliative Committee which was set up by the Association received donations from ALDIN and its well to do members, the NBA Ikorodu Branch, Friends of two very notable Learned Silks, Friends of the National PRO, Mr. Kunle Edun, Associates of Mrs Oduah Joyce, the Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Juliet Ojefia, amongst other notable lawyers. Over sixty beneficiaries from across the country received palliatives in the just concluded first phase of the program which held on the 12th of May, 2020.

Encomium and gratitude poured in from members as everyone praised and lauded the initiative which came in handy at a time of lack and hunger. The lawyers revealed that due to the lockdown they have not been able to carry out their practice to earn money hence they were in serious need of support.

ALDIN appreciates all her donors as the program would not have been possible without them. ALDIN is calling on well meaning Nigerians and members of the NBA to support the noble cause as there are other lawyers who are yet to benefit.

ALDIN leadership has expressed commitment to the welfare, development and general wellbeing of its members now and always.

Yusuf Iyodo, Esq
Director, Media/Publicity

Dr. Chike Okogwu, the executive director, Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE) and the acting convener of Coalition of Disability Organization (CODO) has expressed his dismay over the Federal Government inability to implement Nigeria Disability Law in the ongoing fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking on phone to Plus TV on their News in pidgin, Dr. Chike said that persons with disabilities are facing hard things in this period because Federal Government have failed to implement Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) 2018 which gives priority attention to persons with disabilities in a time like this. (Section 25 of the Act)

He informed that persons with disabilities(PWDs) were excluded in the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the resultant effect of this exclusion is that the best the PTF has done for PWDs is contracting the services of sign language interpreters in all their press briefings which only took care of the deaf, what happens to the needs of other clusters, the physically challenged, the persons with albinism, the blind and others. Their needs are not captured in the programmes of the PTF on COVID-19. The facilities at the treatment centres are they friendly to wheelchair users.

Speaking further, he said that poverty is the greatest challenge faced by PWDs and now that there is lockdown, how are persons with disabilities surviving? In this premise, CODO wrote to Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and later the minister called us for a stakeholders meeting. They promised to share palliative nationwide for PWDs but that promise, there is only 5% chance that it will be implemented.

He argued that palliative is not enough to solve the challenges faced by PWDs. PWDs suppose to enjoy 5% of all social intervention programmes of Federal Government (CCT, Tradermoney, Farmers Money and many others). Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development mapped out 500 billion naira for social intervention programmes and 5% of it supposed to be reserved for PWDs. Imagine if they are implementing the Nigeria Disability Law which made this provision, PWDs should have 25billion naira channeled to take them out of poverty.

He commended Hon. Minister of State of FCT for the way palliative were shared to PWDs in FCT.

Federal Government as a matter of urgency should set up National Disability Commission to take care for the affairs of PWDs because if the commission is in place, all these interventions towards PWDs in COVID-19 would have gotten adequate attention. Not all these insults of giving few bags of rice to huge number of PWDs to share in the name of provision of palliative, he concluded.

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By Blessing Oladunjoye

The Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC has been charged to develop a disability disaggregated data for persons infected with COVID-19. The call was made by The Chairman,  Lagos State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD while speaking on “Protection of PWDs During the Pandemic” on Women Radio, 91.7 FM.The disaggregated data he said would help to ascertain the number of persons work disabilities that have been infected by the virus.Dr. Adebayo disclosed that PWDs are heavily dependent on human support and as a result more vulnerable to being infected by the virus.He explained that the figures of persons infected should not just be disaggregated by gender alone but based on disability too.“Most persons with disabilities have underlying health issues and this make them more vulnerable and when they are not captured in medical data, it means interventions will not capture their needs”, he added.The Lagos JONAPWD chair also noted that that the disability disaggregated data will also help to understand the kind of COVID-19 interventions PWDs are able to access and it will help in the planning of operations, provision and equipping of isolation centres.“Also, the guidelines that NCDC would be giving to curtail the spread of the virus will also be disability sensitive.”Reacting to a question on the claims that the National Safety Net Coordinating Office  have supported PWDs during the pandemic by distributing palliatives, Dr. Adebayo noted that there was nothing if such.“I followed up with Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and I was told they don’t have anything specifically for PWDs from the National Safety Office”, he explained.“The social investment and social protection policy of the federal government are not adequately sensitive to persons with disabilities and we’ve always advocated that disability inclusion be mainstreamed into them.“If that has been achieved before now, there won’t be issues about PWDs getting Palliatives from the social safety net.“About socio-economic palliative, the CBN has rolled out some small businesses to support them against the impact of COVID-19 but that particular program has no plans for PWDs  beneficiaries. PWDs are worst hit because they can’t continue with their businesses and as such should be made to benefit from the CBN program for small businesses.”Adebayo reiterated the need for inclusion of PWDs at the planning stage of public policies, programmes and activities instead of being an after thought which might not serve the right purpose.“The lack of PWD representatives in all interventions by COVID-19 committees and task force is the main cause for all the lag. There’s need to ensure that disability inclusion is mainstrramed at the design, planning and implementation stage”, Adebayo added.He stressed that the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA should ensure disability issues are at the forefront at all times.

Source: BONEWS

I am calling on states governors in Niger Delta to kindly allow Nddc Palliative Distribution Committe to handle the Process Mostly His Excellency Executive Gov of Rivers State, Gov Wike was pressurising the committee to hand over the items meant for the state to the government, That issue have delayed the distribution of the items.

Emmalex called on the Governors of the region to allow the committee set up by the commission to steer the distribution of the palliatives to do its work.

“It is unnecessary for the palliatives to be given to the Governors because the Federal Government has made it clear that it is for the region and Hon. Sobomabo Jackrich and his team are capable of delivering it to the people.

“The Governors of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, are the persons who have been trying to truncate this process.

“The process by the NDDC is not politicized, it is to benefit all Niger Deltans, Most Niger Delta State Gov’s set up their own palliative committee but it was been handled And Distributed by their Party Members

“We Persons living with Disabilities trust in the leadership of Jackrich because we know he will deliver these palliatives to the poor people in the region without fear or favour.”

We regretted that the alleged move by the governors have delayed the commencement of the distribution of the palliatives by the Jackrich led committee, thanking President Muhammadu Buhari, for the gesture.

Also, Speaking Acting chairman of persons living with Disabilities in Niger Delta Mr Reuben Oba inigbelabia: We are happy with what the federal government has done in the area of palliatives for the poor people in Niger Delta.

“We are calling on the governors of the region to stop disturbing the process so that the committee can start the distribution to the people that need them.

Source: 9News Nigeria

Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed satisfaction with the distribution pattern of the COVID-19 palliative to the poor and vulnerable Nigerians by the Federal Government.Ganduje spoke on Sunday in Kano, while receiving 4,718 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the Federal Government.

He said that the relief items would go a long way to complement the efforts of the state government in providing palliatives to  residents.

Ganduje said that the state government had concluded distribution of food items to 50,000 households in the first round as part of efforts to ease hardship during the lockdown.

He said that the second round of the exercise would commence this week, where another 50,000 households were going to benefit

The governor said that some of the beneficiaries include poorest of the poor households, women, elderly people, correctional centres and orphanages.

Ganduje urged the Federal Government to revisit the data and increase the number of pupils in its school feeding programme because of the integration of Almajiri and free and compulsory education in the state.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, who presented the donation, said it was to support the vulnerable segment of the society who were undergoing hardship as a result of the pandemic.

Farouk said that the items include 10 trucks of rice from the Nigerian Customs Service; 2,438 metric tonnes of Maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum.

The minister implored the state government  to ensure that the poor and vulnerable, including the elderly and persons living with disabilities, were prioritised in the distribution of the relief materials.

Prof Yahuza Bello, chairman, Fund Raising and Palliative Committee, promised that the items would be distributed judiciously to the beneficiaries.

Source: The Sun

Determined to reach out to all sectors of Imo citizens during this COVID-19 era, the State Government has donated 500 bags of 10Kg Rice, 60 cartons of Indomie noodles, 40 cartons of Lifebouy soap and 42 cases of powder to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.

Making the presentation in Government House, Owerri, the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie said the donation is yet one of such ways of ensuring that no section of the society is left behind in the distribution of the palliatives being distributed to the vulnerable in Imo State.

He acknowledged the place of PWDs in our society, assuring them of government continued partnership and accommodation in the scheme of things.

Anyaehie admonished them to continue to be peaceful in their day-to-day activities, promising that the donation is just the “beginning of the best to come.”

Receiving the palliatives on behalf of their colleagues, the President-General of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Imo State, Hon. Bright Uzoma thanked the Governor for the goodwill and promised the continued loyalty of his group to the Government of Governor Uzodimma.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Samuelson Emehibe poured encomia on the State Government for remembering persons with disabilities in these trying times and promised to ensure that the donation is evenly distributed to all those concerned.

Present at the presentation was the Hon. Commissioner for Gender and Vulnerable Group, Imo State, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu.

Oguwike Nwachuku

Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser (Gov.)

By Mikail Mumuni

Amidst the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the United States (US)-based Nigerians living with disabilities have petitioned the leadership of the National Assembly over the Federal Government’s delay in establishing an agency to oversee the affairs of the people living with disabilities in the country.

The groups; Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc. (ERPWDI), FESTAC-USA, Inc., Kaysom Holding, Inc., Center for Advocacy and Citizens with Disabilities, among other allies, stated that the delay to set up the agency was in contravention with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, otherwise known as Nigerians with Disabilities Act (NDA)).

The petition was jointly signed by Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ERPWDI and Mrs. Ngozi Pauline Ikebuaku, Executive Secretary of the organisation, on behalf of the coalition of US-based non-profit bodies advocating for the over 31 million Nigerians living with disabilities.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Jan. 23, 2019, signed the Disability Bill into law with Section 31 of the Act, providing for the setting up of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities with Executive Secretary as the head.

Also, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker, House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila, had, on April 7, met with the the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, against the backdrop of the ongoing Federal Government intervention initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable Nigerians.

The leadership of the National Assembly had faulted the way the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the Federal Government was being implemented and called for an enabling legislation in line with global best practices.

Lawan and Gbajabiamila made it clear that the SIP which was established in 2016 under the Presidency but which is now under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs needed a reform to make it more efficient and effective to addressing the problems of the poorest Nigerians.

Reacting in the petition, the group called on Lawan, Gbajabiamila, other principal members of the legislature, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to come to the rescue of their members living in the country at this period of COVID-19.

The coalition urged the legislative arm to prevail on the executive towards ensuring the establishment of the commission that would help to oversee the affairs of the 31 million of their members living in the country in accordance with the law, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda.

The group alleged that the intervention by various governments to cushion Nigerians plights in the country during this disease outbreak had left out the larger part of their members.

“On behalf of over 31 million Nigerians and one billion persons with disabilities worldwide, 10 million Almajiris and millions of victims of terrorism, bandits, kidnapping, armed robbery, man-made and natural disasters, climate change, waste, transboundary, indoors and outdoors air pollutions and their massive health effects which causes permanent disabilities to the victims if they are not dead, we, the Nigerian-Americans with disabilities living in the United States, move to send this heartfelt very thank you note to the National Assembly’s members for the extra productive emergency meeting of the joint National Assembly with the Hon. Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Developments.

“Therefore Sir, the main focus of this petition is on the valid, arguable and verifiable subjects of civil, human, disability and constitutional questions/issues, which you discussed and clearly stated.

“We humbly and respectfully ask you to please Sir, patiently study the outcome of your meeting and our ‘COVID-19-May Workers Day: PART ONE: Chronological Order Historic Documentary Report/Petition Against the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Demand for the Immediate Establishment of an Independent Implementation Commission for the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.’

“COVID-19 Pandemic: Therefore, we are very angry about how the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been acting during this ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, by continuing with Nigeria’s usual well documented, known and recognised, over one Century’s old (Since 1914 Amalgamation of Nigeria), bad practices of gross marginalisation, disenfranchisement, discrimination, denial of programmes and services, etc, of Nigerians with disabilities under their direct cares,” they said.

The group, which admitted that the National Assembly was correct in its observation that the SIP needed a reform to make it more efficient and effective, said it was disheartening that none of the real leaders of 31 million Nigerians with disabilities, 10 million Almajiris, millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others, were contacted by the Presidency and the ministry.