Madukao Igbokwe l Friday, December 03, 2021
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Governor of Anambra State chief Willie Obiano has constituted a Disability Rights Commission in the state three years after passing disability rights into law. The commission will assist in the implementation of the disability rights bill passed into law in 2018.
This was communicated to journalist by the governor at a Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) programme.
Anambra state chapter in collaboration with the office of the governor on Disability Matters and Ministry of Women Affair and Children Affairs media chat to commemorate the 2021 International Day for persons with disabilities in Awka Anambra state on Friday .
Obiano who spoke through his Special Adviser on disability matters Barr. Chuka Ezewuzie said that nine persons were appointed according to the letter of disabilities right law of 2018. According to the governor , the commission is to be headed by Barr. Chuka Ezewuzie as the Executive Director.
Members of the commission are drawn from , ministries of youth, education , justice , civil societies organisation , representative of Religious bodies , joint national association of persons with disabilities JONAPWD and private sector.
He said that the commission is expected to start operations immediately in the state to ensure that people with disabilities have their full rights in the state.
“Today 3rd December 2021,the disabilities rights commission is established. The commission is to commence actions and operations in the state immediately. It is empowered to implement the disabilities law in the state.
Persons with disabilities in the state are like their counterparts anywhere in advanced world. The law is a domestication of international rights of persons with disabilities in the state ” he said.
Earlier in the programme , the chairman JONAPWD Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke had expressed displeasure over none implementation of the disabilities rights law since 2018.
He said that despite the existence of the disabilities rights law people and communities tend to avoid contacts and personal relationship with persons with disabilities in the state .
He said “the pervasiveness of the prejudice and discrimination affecting persons with disabilities and degrees to which they are excluded from participating in social interaction , produces psychological and social problems for them “
According to him, to create a sustainable inclusiveness, all members of the society are to equally participate in civic ,social ,economic and political activities of the state at all level. He said that to encourage inclusive participation , there must be universal access to public infrastructure and facilities , equal access to information as well as wealth.
Also speaking earlier at the event, the coordinator of Rule Of Law and Anti- Corruption ( ROLAC) programme Mrs. Onah Josphine called on stakeholders to work towards ensuring that the disabilities rights laws is implemented. According to her, what is good to them is also good for their brothers and sisters with disabilities.
She said that ROLAC has trained over 40 language interpreters towards total implementation of the law in the state.
“We worked to ensure that the law was passed and we are working now to ensure that it is fully implemented in the state ” she said
