Various clusters of persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in Edo State, under the aegis of Edo Disability Forum (EDF), have reiterated calls for the establishment of a disability commission to drive implementation of the state’s disability law.
The convener, Melody Omosah Esq., who led other members of the forum on an advocacy visit to Government House, Benin City, at the weekend, maintained that only a sustainable solution can well cater for the needs of PWDs in the state.
According to Omosah, what Edo PWDs “need in the long-run” is empowerment, to contribute to national growth rather than wait for handouts hence the call on the government to create the enabling environment for them to thrive.
“What we would recommend as a sustainable solution is that, yes. We thank his Excellency, the Governor of Edo State (Godwin Obaseki) who has given us a disability law in 2022. He promised he was going to do that, and he did it; but, the commission that would drive the implementation of that law, and that would coordinate government effort at ensuring social inclusion in governance and development, is not in place.
“We would request that before this administration winds up in November, that commission should be established, so that we have on a sustainable basis, an organ of government that is able to handle issues as it affects persons with disabilities without necessarily waiting for situation like this emergency situations (occasioned by removal of petroleum subsidy) to arise. Nip it in the bud. That (Edo disability) commission when put in place would guarantee that for persons living with disabilities,” the EDF convener said.
Responding, Ogie Ogendegbe, who received the group on behalf of the chief of staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha, assured them of the state governor’s commitment to the welfare of Edo people.
Ogendegbe assured that, their demands would be met, describing the governor as a “visioner”.
The visit to Government House is coming after series of advocacy visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to draw their attention to the plight of PWDs in the state, especially as a result of the petroleum subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
The group also presented its findings on the adverse effects of the subsidy removal on the overall well-being of PWDs across the three senatorial districts, and as well recommendations on how to inclusively mitigate effects of the current economic hardship.
