Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), an advocacy rights organization based in Abuja has called for an improved Implementation of the provisions of Nasarawa State Disability law.
They made this appeal during an advocacy visit to the Nasarawa State Disability Commission through the support from Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
Addressing the Executive Secretary and members of the Disability Commission on the aims and objectives of their visit Mr. Okoroafor Alexander Uchechukwu stated that the visit aims to secure the Commission’s buy-in in 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 are 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 Commission to ensure 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 lost their babies due to inaccessible infrastructure and communication.
She also talked about 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 society.
These aims are in line with the reason for the establishment of the Commission. Barr Mary further said that failure to comply with these provisions after 5 years allows an affected person with a disability to instigate legal action against the erring cooperation or individual to the tune of 1 Million naira s (for organizations) and N100 thousand naira (for individuals) respectively which the Commission is fully aware of.
Mrs. Asaba Averson, a member of the VDI Team spoke on her displeasure with the slow pace of activities in the Commission, stating that the commission currently has no accessible building, not a single one since its establishment. She also hinted at the slow pace of the Commission to appoint Directors to head the various departments within the Commission.
The Executive Secretary welcomed the Team and extends the Commission hand in partnership with this course.
Reacting to what has been said so far the ES said that the Nasarawa State disability law was institutionalized in 2020, but full operations commenced in 2021 with the creation of 5 departments in the Commission which are Finance, Planning, Administrative, Compliance, and Social Services.
Speaking on the slow pace of the Commission in appointing Directors, he said that such powers don’t reside with the Commission but rather reside with the Ministry of Finance which the Commission is under and reports directly to.
He added that the Commission has written to the Ministry for the appointments but is yet to receive any response on the matter.
Addressing the inaccessibility of the Commission, he said that the contract has been awarded but the contractors will soon commence restructuring the building to ensure its accessibility.
Mr. Okoroafor while encouraging the efforts of the Commission, insists that more pressure be mounted on the Ministry to attend to the Commission’s request to appoint Directors, he added that only those who wear the shoe know where it pinches. If we relax and let the Ministry alone, they too won’t see the need to act fast in our favor.
Mr. Okoroafor also mentioned the case of a 15-year-old deaf girl who was gang raped in Obi local government of Nasarawa State and mentioned VDI’s effort on the case and the need to follow up and ensure justice is done.
The Executive Secretary commended the efforts of
