CCD urges National, State Houses of Assemblies to establish ad-hoc committee on disability affairs

By Abuja Reporter

Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged the National and States Houses of Assemblies to establish ad-hoc committees on disability affairs

This the Center said was to ensure issues of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were given priority at legislation.

Mr David Anyaele, the Executive Director of CCD, made the call on Friday in a statement issued to commemorate Global International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).

The 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is themed “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”

It focuses on the empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which pledges to ‘leave no one behind’.

Anyaele said that the Senate of the NASS and States Houses of Assemblies need to emulate the House of Representatives by establishing similar ad-hoc Disability Committees to carter for disability related issues at plenaries.

According to him, establishment of a disability ad-hoc committee will ensure that issues of persons with disabilities are given priority at state and federal level.

“Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day set aside by the United Nations to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of PDWs and the gains of their integration in politics, social, economic, and cultural aspects of life.

“We wish to commend the National Assembly in particular the Federal House of Representatives for the establishment of an ad-hoc Committee on Disability Affair with Rep. Miriam Onuoha as its Chairperson.

“We are calling on the Senate and States House of Assemblies to borrow a leaf from the Federal House of Representatives by establishing similar ad-hoc Disability Committees to ensure that issues of persons with disabilities are given priority at State and Federal level,” he said.

Anyaele said the group was concerned that 34 months after the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, citizens with disabilities were still left behind in policies due to non-implementation of the Act by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said that the exclusive of PWDs was evidenced by the non-provision of necessary measures to enhance access to buildings of these MDAs, and inclusion of citizens with disabilities in their programmes and activities.

“We are also worried that more than 18 months after President Muhammadu Buhari gave directives to MDAs to pay special attention to the peculiarities of PWDs in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.

“MDAs are not responsive to the directives, and regrettably, exclusion of PWDs in MDAs programmes and activities still continues,” he said.

Anyaele called on heads of MDAs to operationalize the president’s directives to ensure the full implementation of the Disability Rights Act and its provisions for the benefits of no fewer than 31million PWDs across the country.

He also urged states across the country who were still struggling to make budgetary allocation for the integration and rehabilitation of citizens with disabilities to comply with the law.

Anyaele commended Lagos, Plateau, Ondo and Anambra states that had taken measures to not only pass disability bills but also created offices for disability affairs in their states.

He also lauded the media for its continued support to efforts of the disability community towards increasing the voice of the voiceless through inclusive reportage.

He urged journalist and various media organisations not to relent in their efforts in promoting and creating awareness on disability issues at all levels of government.

Reports states that the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a non-profit making organization for persons with disabilities that works to promote independent living, human rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in development efforts.

CCD also works to educate, support and empower persons with disabilities and their families to maximize their potentials, boost self-reliance, financial sustainability and independence.