By Sunny A. David, Awka
Persons living with disabilities in Anambra State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the disability rights bill into law.
Our Correspondent reports that the Chairman Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, (JONAPWD), Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke who made the appeals in Awka during a roundtable meeting between Civil Society Organisations and the Media on the rights of persons with disabilities.
He stressed that it was imperative to give them a sense of belonging and full inclusion in governance.
Comrade Okeke said though Nigeria had signed the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, they are still unable to access full justice mainly due to absence of adequate laws and policies that protect them.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Mr. Azuka Ofomata who incidentally is visually impaired noted that the challenge they face in the society was not because of their physical impairments but environmental, institutional and attitudinal barriers.
A Civil Society Activist, Prince Chris Azor while stressing the need for a disability rights law in the state however commended Governor Willie Obiano’s administration for its effort to improve the welfare of Persons living with disabilities in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Chuks Ezewuzie, promised that the bill would be signed into law soon, adding that plans are underway for the establishment of a special fund for persons with disabilities in the state.
