The Gombe State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Dr Ishiyaku Adamu, has appealed to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, to expedite action towards sending the disability bill to the house of assembly, urging him to celebrate first year in second term in office with the assent.
He told journalists that the current administration has displayed unusual support to issues concerning PWDs, stressing that the governor has expressed optimism on two occasions to do the needful towards ensuring that his association is continuously prioritised.
Adamu disclosed these shortly after an Advocacy for Disability Act Cluster, alongside five Civil Society Organisations under the SCALE project implemented by Inclusive Friends Association.
He said, “For almost 15 years we have never come as close as this; on two different occasions the governor made personal commitment that he will assent to the bill once house of assembly passes it which was on the 3rd December 2019 when we met him at the Government House and also of recent during commemoration of persons with disabilities 2023 we saw the press release from Government House where the press team made commitment saying the governor is willing.
“He also called us on phone which triggered us to work with the Commissioner for Justice on the bill. We have information that he has sent it to His Excellency what we want is for His Excellency to transmit the bill to house of assembly.
“We hope that persons with disabilities will celebrate the assent together with his first year in his second term that is our prayer.”
While expressing his association’s optimism, Adamu called on the government to reap the fruit associated with being PWD-compliant, stressing that alot have been missed following the non passage of the bill.
“Other states are enjoying development project because they have the disability Act and commission in place but in Gombe State we are missing because whenever you are checking the list because we have about 18 states across the state and we know Gombe is a state that works with development partners.
“Gombe State can’t enjoy the funding, partnership from international donors if we don’t have these laws in place. The governor should kindly transmit the bill and as soon as it is passed he should assent so that we can enjoy what other states are enjoying,” he said.
Also speaking, Secretary of Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Bachama Yusuf, said Gombe State disability bill which is at the moment on the process of transmission from the Executive arm of Government to the Gombe State House of Assembly, “restore our hope and expectation that the bill will be passed after 15 years of relentless advocacy.We therefore appreciate His Excellency Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for always identifying with the disability community in Gombe State. This gives us hope that His Excellency will transmit the Disability bill to Gombe State House of Assembly and the Governor in his usual magnanimity will assent to it as soon as the bill is been passed and establish the Disability Commission,” he said.
Also, acting Chairman of ANGO, Idris Maigari, also appreciated the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for not only reviewing the draft bill, adding, “but also enriching its contents. Similarly, we appreciate the chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Shuaibu Adamu for his commitment and passion toward the passage of the Disability bill in the state.”
On his part, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Saidu Malala, expressed optimism that the bill would be considered by lawmakers, adding that “the members are ADAC friendly and are waiting to receive the bill to give it the needed attention.”
