Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
The Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, in Akwa Ibom state says the Bill seeking to protect physically challenged persons against discrimination will achieve its full intentions only with the creation of a disability commission.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is currently re-considering a Bill to Protect Persons With Disabilities Against Discrimination. The Bill was previously passed by the sixth assembly led by Barr Onofiok Luke, but was denied assent by the Governor.
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Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Felicia Bassey, reintroduced the Bill for reconsideration under the current assembly.
JONAPWD Akwa Ibom state in partnership with Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent DE Paul with support from Liliane fund at a joint media chat in Uyo called on the State House of Assembly to provide for a commission for disability matters in the Bill.
JONAPWD says the Bill should be able to reverse the charity approach with which issues concerning persons with disabilities are treated and move the state towards full inclusion of persons with disabilities.
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In an interaction, the state chairperson of JONAPWD, Deaconess Offiong Bassey and Secretary, Prince Akaninyene Isidore, said a disability commission is the only viable machinery for the implementation of all the provisions in the Bill, insisting that the continued lumping up of disabilities matters under the welfare directorate in the Ministry of Women Affairs ends up treating very little issues affecting PWDs.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs is already is already overloaded with ministerial functions, same with the Ministry of Justice. So, for us to achieve inclusion for PWDs which is the international practice now, we need a commission that will liaise with all ministries to achieve inclusion.”
They insisted that the needs of disabled persons were not just about welfare, hence, making a law to protect persons with disabilities without a commission will not change anything.
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JONAPWD and her partners said PWDs need an unhindered access to social amenities and inclusive school environment, saying that a commission headed by a person with disability was the surest way to achieve inclusion.
The association thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for paying attention to the welfare of PWDs in the state, noted the recent N3 million financial support the governor gave to a PWD from Ibesikpo Asutan local government.
Meanwhile, the association has called on the governor to extend the same assistance to other members of the group.
