Group Calls For Domestication Of National Disability Bill In Gombe
Chima Azubuike
The Advocacy for Disability Act Cluster Anchor and Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry, has called for concerted effort in ensuring Persons With Disabilities in Gombe State get the needed access.
Our correspondent reports that Gombe is one of the few states yet to domesticate the National Disability bill.
She made this disclosure at a two-day stakeholders’ consultative forum meeting on the Gombe State Disability Bill, held at Emerald Hill Hotel, Government Reserved Area, Gombe.
Jerry who was represented by Moses Oluwaseyi, made her remarks on behalf of the Coalition of the Advocacy for Disability Act Cluster, the Board, and the Management, stressed that the group was implementing its project through the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagements implemented by Palladium and funded by USAID.
According to her, based on United Nations statistics which estimate 15 per cent of the world’s population to be PWDs, there are over 30 million persons in Nigeria who have one form of disability or the other, adding “With these estimates, Gombe state has 600,000 persons who have one form of disability or the other.”
While lamenting the challenges of PWDs the IFA boss said, “This population has diverse skills, potentials, economic contributions that inform development, and a huge demography to determine the outcome of an election. No doubt, the community of Persons with Disabilities has suffered discrimination, neglects, barriers, poverty, and exclusion due to the inadequacies and in some instance absence of systems and structure.
“Having legislation that protects the rights and drives accountability from State and Non-state actors will create accessible systems and structures and will in return lead to the development and growth of the state.”
Speaking further Jerry commended the Gombe State House of Assembly and the State Government, for the needed support in realisation of the domestication adding, “ADAC is committed to ensuring persons with disabilities live a fulfilled life through an accessible system and structure which is rooted in inclusive legislation which informed this meeting to review the Gombe state Disability Bill.
“ADAC appreciates and commends the Executive Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, and the Gombe State House of Assemblu for their commitment to the passage of progressive laws and providing people-oriented leadership in the state.
“In the same vein, the ADAC call for speedy passage of the bill by the Gombe State House of Assembly and the Executive Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya to enlist himself among the community of inclusive governors by prioritizing and ensuring that, the Gombe State Disability Bill see the light of the day through his assent. This plea includes the establishment of a Disability Commission for the state which will help drive implementation of the Bill when it becomes a law.”
While commending the efforts of partners Jerry encouraged all stakeholders’ present to make an informed observation, contribution, and input to enable the community of Persons with Disability in Gombe State to have a document that provides for their rights, adding that, “I will like to thank our partners Palladium for their technical assistance; and the United States Agency for International Development, for their financial assistance. The Disability community is most grateful for their support.”
In an interview with journalists Dr Ishiyaku Adamu, State Chairman Joint National Association for Persons With Disabilities said over the years members of JONAPWD, have suffered following the inability of Gombe State Government to domesticate the National Disability bill.
He said, “Persons With Disabilities over the years have been neglected and they lack opportunities in almost all aspects of life. Today, we have come with stakeholders to talk about how Gombe State Government can support and sign Gombe State Disability bill, which has been done in 14 states so far across the country.
“The bill talks about free Education for people with disability, persons with disability lack opportunities so they are not educated. There is relationship between poverty and disability, most of the parents of persons with disabilities lack funds to carter for their wards even those with opportunities they don’t see it as priority they priotises other things but if government makes education free for PWDs it will go a long way to making persons with disabilities part of the society and not as liability for the community the same as healthcare PWDs are facing pre-existing health issues particularly those with Spinal cord injuries and the access to healthcare is very expensive.”
