BENIN CITY- The Coalition of Persons With Disabilities in Edo State (CPWDE), has again solicited the support of Edo State Government and the state House of Assembly for the domestication of the Edo State Disability Rights Bill.
The group, however, expressed its appreciation to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his various interventions to CPWDE in the past three years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Edo.
Speaking during Advocacy Rally for the passage of the state disability rights bill, organised by CPWDE in collaboration with Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul in Benin City recently, the convener, Mr. Onome Otueroro, said they are appealing to state government to help in passing Disability Bill bill into law.
He noted that several attempts made by CPWDE to have the disability bill signed into since 2012 have not been successful, but remarked that the Governor Obaseki led administration has no doubt shown greater inclination towards the bill and rekindle the hope of many People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
“As at today, a draft copy of a bill for a Law to ensure full integration of persons with disabilities and vest it with responsibilities for their education, health and the protection of socio-economic, cultural, civil as well as the political rights of PWDs in Edo been developed by the Executive and currently on the Governor’s table awaiting transmission to the state House of Assembly for further actions
“We want to appeal to Edo State Government to expedite action in the domestication of the Disability Bill so that we the PWDs can have something to smile about”, he said.
Speaking also, Joshua Iziekor said: “We need the attention of the state government for disability bill to be passed into law, because many of us who are disabled are being discriminated against”
Similarly omoregie Daniel and Isaac Aigbogiaze, in their separate reactions to expressed optimism that the state government will expidite action in the passage of the disability bill, adding that, if domesticated into law, the bill will avail the PWDs in the state several rights and privillages.
“Mr Godwin obaseki has a people oriented governor,we believe he will help to FasTrack the passage of the disability bill and this is why we are making this appeal.”, Daniel started.
