By joshua 
The newly appointed Executive Secretary, Kogi State Office For Disability Affairs, Barr. Zacchaeus Dare Michael, has commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for the establishment of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs, described him as PWD friendly Governor.
Barr. Dare observed that the take-off of the Disability office in the state is a signpost of social inclusion scheme of the Gov. Bello’s government, stating that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) constitute one of the vulnerable, marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded groups in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary added too that the establishment of the office in the State will drastically check the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, also known as the National Disability Act.
Speaking shortly after receiving his letter of appointment as the Executive Secretary of the office for Disability affairs, Barr. Dare said the love for the Governor for youths, women and people with disabilities, shows that Gov. Bello is an angel in human form.
According to the Executive Secretary, the establishment of disability office in the state followed the call by the Federal Government to domesticate and the enforcement of the Commission at all levels of Governance.
The Executive Secretary recalled that Mr. president’s appointment of executive members of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), led to the setting up of the Commission in the State.
Barr. Dare observed that Nigeria has an estimated population of 25 million Nigerians with disability, hence the need for the establishment of the Disability Commission, lauded Gov. Bello’s love for PLWD, an action that made him join about six other states so far in the country that have established the office in the country.
Barr. Dare applauded the State Governor for making efforts to bring an end to years of exclusion of PLWD, said with this singular action, this valuable population through the establishment of the office in the state, charged specifically with the responsibility of ensuring the inclusion and welfare of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law in Nigeria will be realised.
Barr. Dare observed earnestly that through the mandate of the Office of the Disability it will ensure that the education, healthcare and other social and economic rights of the people with disabilities contained in the 1999 Constitution and the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be upheld in the state.
The Executive Secretary maintained that worthy of emphasis is the mandate of the Office of the Disability to ensure that at least five per cent of all public appointments go to people with disabilities as backed up by the law supporting the establishment of the commission; pointing out that only PWDs can proffer solutions to challenges they face, commended Gov. Bello for honor the domestication of the Commission with an office in the State through the provision of the law.
While stressing that for persons with disabilities, the freedom to move safely around urban and rural areas in Nigeria is greatly restricted by the plan and design of transport systems that is insensitive to their needs, and by negative social norms that tolerates violence towards certain disabilities. These insensitivities he noted exposes them to violence whilst on the streets, especially women with disabilities facing multiple burden as they are exposed to the threat of gender-based violence while they go about their daily life.
The Executive Secretary said the key areas that requires immediate attention of the disability office includes transformation of the transport system to ensure adequate buses and stops, street lighting, recruitment of female transport staff, disability friendly public toilets and infrastructure that caters to their mobility and protection.
Barr. Dare welcomed Gov. Bello’s commitment to creating a PWD friendly society, assuring that the office will see to the translation into investment in infrastructure and public services that accounts for the needs of this teeming population, and by extension, everybody’s need.
While restating that with the Office of Disability now in the state, the State Government will provide disability friendly public and public services to PWD, described Gov. Bello as fit for the nation’s presidency, having met the yearning and aspirations of the youths, women and PWD.
Barr. Dare praised Gov. Bello saying that with the establishment of the Office of Disability, the administration is set to correct the injustices done the special people over the years, said under the Act, the rights and privileges of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) which include education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies will be addressed.
The Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 according to the Executive Secretary will ensure that all public organisations reserves at least 5% of employment opportunities for PWDs, which means the nation will draw from the full potentials of all the human resources in the country.
The Act also added provides a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible and useable by people with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.
Again, the Act specifies that henceforth, before erecting any public structure, the approving authority should not approve the plan of a public building that does not make provision for accessibility of facilities in line with the building code.
He said approving a building plan that contravenes the code attracts a fine of at least N1,000,000.00 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.
The Act, therefore, ensures social justice and inclusivity of PWDs in various spheres of human endeavour in Nigeria as discrimination he said is prohibited in public transportation facilities.
Besides, service providers according to him are to make provisions for the visually and hearing impaired and all persons challenged. This also applies to seaports, railways and airport facilities.
Essentially, the Act protects the rights and dignity of PWDs in Nigeria; and parties in the Act are required to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by PWDs and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law, which is necessary for inclusive development.
While applauding Gov Bello, the for domesticating the act in the State, like Nigeria, Kogi State has keyed into, global awareness of disability-inclusive development, as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) he observed promotes the full integration of persons with disabilities in societies…. Continue reading