The Advocacy for Disability Act, on Monday tasked the Women Affairs and Special Duties committee of Gombe State House of Assembly to expedite action on the six-week public hearing on disability bill bill which recently scaled first, second readings.
Our correspondent reports that ADAC a consortium of five Civil Society Organisations, Joint Association of Persons with Disability Gombe State Chapter, Gombe State Network of Civil Society, and Association of Non-Governmental Organisations have intensified campaign on the passage of the bill.
The five CSOs are El-New Hope Foundation, Abia State; Global Youth Empowerment and Vulnerable Initiative, Adamawa State; Lawanti Development Community Foundation, Gombe State; Centre for Peace Education and Community Development, Taraba State and the Inclusive Friends Association, Abuja. The Cluster is implementing the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) through Palladium funded by United States Agency for International Development.
Grace Jerry, ADAC Cluster Anchor and Executive Director Inclusive Friends Association, made this call in a press statement commending Gombe State House a for keeping to the integrity of their word on the move for an inclusive legislation by attending to the bill, Gombe State Disability Protection Law and establishment of Gombe State Disability Commission and other matters related.
She said, “The ADAC humbly calls on members of the House Committee on Women Affairs and special duties which is saddled with a six weeks period of working on the Bill to continue in the professionalism of the Gombe Assembly to speed up their reviews within the mandated period.
“Gombe State has with this development demonstrated interest and commitment to issues that concerns the Disability Community and the ADAC remains optimistic that in no time, the state will join the league of inclusive states in Nigeria.
“The ADAC believes that a dawn of reality to the words of the inclusive Gombe State Governor, His Excellency Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya will come to a reality in the shortest possible time. In his word; We remain resolute in our commitment to providing necessary support for the empowerment and dreams of our PWDs and Efforts are underway to establish an Agency to cater for the unique needs and welfare of our PWD community. The ADAC humbly request for speedy assented upon the completion of the legislative process for this Bill.”
While commending the Speaker of the house, Jerry added, “The ADAC Cluster joins the population of over a half a million (594,015) Persons with Disabilities in Gombe State to applaud the Gombe State House of Assembly under the leadership of Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo for prioritising a Bill for the Gombe State Disability Protection Law and establishment of Gombe State Disability Commission and other Matters related on Tuesday June 11, 2024 for the first and second reading. Achieving a legislative landmark on the eve of Democracy Day celebration demonstrates the commitment and the dedication of the Gombe State House of Assembly to democratic values and responsiveness to the community of Persons with Disabilities which makes them a pacesetter to other Assemblies.”
