Int'l Day of PWDs 2022: No Political Party/Candidates are PWDs Friendly - CDD

Int'l Day of PWDs 2022: No Political Party/Candidates are PWDs Friendly - CCD

... Urge Nigerian Govts to Embrace Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development....

.. Advocates to States to adopt Discrimination against PWDs (Prohibition) Act 2018...

By Abisola Ariwodola,

As the world marks this year’s World Disability Day, its also less than 83 days to Nigerias' general elections, and issues of critical importance to the disability community are missing in the manifestos of front line political parties and their candidates.

This according to David Anyaele of Center for Citizens With Disability, CCD is indicative that the in-coming federal government and others may struggle to prioritize inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in government programs and activities as their operational documents do not indicate how citizens with disabilities would be part of the government.

In a release to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, themed: Embrace Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development, Mr David O. Anyaele of CCD, said People with disabilities and their families as well as concerned citizens should demand from political parties’ candidates’ agenda for persons with disabilities. PWDs and their organisations must document disability related promises made by candidates in order to hold them to account for the general elections.

The Disability Center speaking on "The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable World“ it urged Nigerian government to Embrace Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development, and the people to reflect and to ask critical questions on the extent that the Federal government and its subnational are responsive to the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society and ensuring for their education, health care and the protection of their social, economic, and civil rights.

CDD commended State governments that have adopted the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 or passed disability laws in their respective States, it cited states yet to adopt the PWDs act as Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Osun, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Rivers, Taraba, and Yobe States, advocated to the governments to take appropriate measures to protect their citizens with disabilities without further delay through the adoption of the Disability Act.

Highlighting the Section 2 of the Disability Act, he called on stakeholders/agencies of government to support Persons with Disabilities with provisions for promotion of awareness regarding- (a) the rights, respect and dignity of persons with disabilities, (b) the capabilities, achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to the society; pointing out that if the governments are not implementing the disability laws in the land, who will protect the rights of PWDs, he asked?

Anyaele used the medium to call on members of the Federal and States House of Assembly to demand for the budgetary provisions and activities from all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for the full implementation of the Disability Law.

Describing December 3 as a date set aside annually for the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3, he stated that the observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, and also increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

Furthermore, CDD appreciated efforts of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) in implementing their framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Electoral Process. Evidence from the last election conducted by INEC shows that there is relative improvement in terms of inclusion and access to the electoral process.

He added that as the 2023 general elections is about to commence, there is worry about rate of insecurity and lack of political tolerance among political parties and their candidates. This situation is a driver of voter apathy, low participation of vulnerable groups in the electoral process.

The Center called on INEC to improve on the successes recorded in Osun State to ensure equal voting access for persons with disabilities, adding that People with disabilities should be encouraged to go for early collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) even as we request for priority considerations in line with the provisions of the National Disability Act and INEC Framework on PWDs.

It also called on security agencies to push back the ugly scenario of inadequate security, as the 2023 general elections provides an important opportunity for each and every registered voter to decide his or her future. No one should be left behind in the electoral process by reason of insecurity.