Mr AbdulWahab Matepo, the National President, Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), has appealed to the Ogun Government to re-enact the disability law to safeguard rights of persons with disabilities.
Matepo made the call on Thursday in Abeokuta at a one-day stakeholders’ consultation on the state disability bill, themed: “Strengthening Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disability in Ogun State.”
He said the struggle for disability inclusion in Nigeria has spanned over two decades through sustained advocacy by recognised disability groups.
He noted that a law signed on Dec. 27, 2017, has yet to become fully operational due to the lack of gazetting and certain impractical provisions.
According to him, this has hindered enforcement and denied persons with disabilities the ability to seek legal redress when their rights are violated.
“Some of the provisions in the law are unrealistic and can not be implemented, even by the government,” he said.
Matepo disclosed that disability groups recently met in Abeokuta to review the law clause-by-clause, and to propose workable amendments.
He said the process involved representatives of various disability clusters and guided by a legal consultant.
He added that the group had submitted its recommendations to relevant ministries and the state house of assembly.
The SCIAN president urged government to reintroduce the revised law as an executive bill to ensure speedy passage and implementation, stressing the need for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in policymaking processes.
In his remarks, National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Mr Yinka Folarin, urged the state government to expedite action on the bill.
Folarin said it was unfortunate that Ogun remains the only state in the south-west yet to domesticate disability legislation.
According to him, inclusive development cannot be achieved if persons with disabilities are excluded from governance and policy frameworks.
Ibinola Feyisayo of the state Ministry of Budget and Planning said government remains committed to inclusive policies.
She expressed optimism that necessary steps would be taken to address all concerns raised.
Other stakeholders who spoke also appealed to the state government to do the needful as soon as possible.(NAN)
