The Bureau Of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and TAF Africa, on Monday, signed Memorandum of Understanding to drive disability inclusion and accessibility reforms in the public service to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking at the event organized at the BPSR Headquarters in Abuja, the Director-General, of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr. Dasuki Arabi informed that federal government in 2018 signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, with the establishment of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities.
“The Act provides the integration of PWDs, with rights to employment and participation in public life, accessibility to public structures, education, health, and priority in queues, accommodation, and other emergency.
He also said the partnership with TAF Africa will help to deepen the domestication of the Act across the states as only nine states have domesticated the Act as at 2022.
People with disabilities face various challenges to meaningful well-being which was compounded by the Covid outbreak.
“The need to translate this number into a vibrant workforce and ensure social inclusion is imperative for nation-building and cannot be underestimated.
He stated that the collaboration between BPSR and TAF Africa Foundation would seek to effectively develop policy responses and data-driven programming to better the well-being of Persons with Disabilities.
He also stated that the MOU is founded within the strategic framework of citizen engagement under the principle of open door policy, encourage social inclusion, civil participation and public policies and programs.
“The partnership with TAF Africa signals the zeal for BPSR to work with relevant bodies in public and private sectors to support the implementation of Disability Act” he stated.
“The partnership will promote inclusive policy and strategic development and reforms by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government in Nigeria,” he noted.
The Chief Executive Officer, TAF Africa, Amb. Jake Epelle while appreciating the DG for the collaboration, appealed that the work begins immediately.
He suggested that a strategic team be set up comprising of BPSR, TAF Africa and other relevant organizations like Sightsavers, Ford Foundation, Macarthur Foundation, FCDO, NCPWD and JONAPWD.
“Some of these organizations are for economic reason because BPSR may not been able to fund all the activities” he added.
He appealed to the DG to have another immediate meeting with these organisations and more in order to form a formidable strategic team.
He spoke on the issue of data of PWDs which will aid in planning for the community and accessibility of public infrastructures which a lot of PWDs continue to struggle with and again the visibility of the Disability Act.
He informed that the act has been simplified by TAF Africa but it is not yet be provided in the format that the Deaf will understand.
“I also plead that the Act should be translated into three major local languages; Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa to further drive the awareness in rural areas.”
He also called for readiness for the review of Disability Act because the Act will be 5 years soon. It calls for review and there are many emerging issues that will play out in the review progress.
