In continuation of its advocacy visit to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Edo Disability Forum (EDF) on Tuesday, met with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., to reiterate calls for the establishment of a disability commission to drive implementation of the Edo Disability Law.
The convener, Melody Omosah Esq., who led other members of the forum to the Edo SSG’s office noted that the Governor Godwin Òbaseki-led administration has done much for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state especially the passage and subsequent assent to the disability bill, to become law.
According to Omosah, the current economic hardship occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy by President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, severely affects PWDs in the state, hence it requires the setting up of the commission to address their immediate and long-term needs, as well as cater for emergency situations as a post-subsidy regime.
“The only thing that is left, which we want to request is that as an icing on the cake, this administration before it leaves (in November 2024), should put in place the (disability) commission, contemplated by section 25 of the law.
“That commission should be constituted to drive the implementation of the law and ensure that the inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and development is guaranteed,” Omosah advocated
In the same vein, chairperson of the state chapter of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ann Ojugo, while commending the government for the commitment to their welfare, drew Ogie’s attention to the inaccessibility of the Edo SSG’s office to PWDs on wheelchairs.
Responding, the SSG lamented the plight of people living with disabilities in Nigeria, assuring that the state government will prioritize their welfare for other states to emulate.
According to Ogie, “It’s not difficult. If others can do it, why can’t we do it?. We travel out, we see how people (with disabilities) are treated outside the country. Why is our own different?
“We will do it here in Edo state, by the time we start it, and others will see, and they would want to replicate it in their states.”
Ogie further assured the group, “I am going to take your request to the state Governor, those that can still be done before the expiration of his tenure, we would do, those I put on priority for the incoming government, we would put it on priority.”
He continued, “Look at my office, no ramp here, so if tomorrow I’m proposing that a ramp for the SSG’s office, I’m talking from experience, and I’m not going to go into office as a Deputy Governor if that office has no ramps; and if the present office of the Governor has no ramp, we would make sure that before he takes over office there will be ramp, the excos chamber must have a ramp.
“These are the things we want to do to show that we understand your language.”
The group’s visit to the office of the SSG is coming after series of advocacy visits to MDAs, to present reports of it findings on the effects of the post-subsidy regime on the well-being of PWDs in the state, as well as recommendations on how best to carry them along.
Highpoints of the advocacy visit was presentation of the reports, and a group photograph with the Edo SSG.
