CCD commends Gov. Fayemi as Ekiti passes Disability law, appoints SSA on Disability Matters

Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD has commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for passing the State Disability Bill into Law and the appointment of a person with disability as Senior Special Adviser on Disability Matters in line with the provision of the law.

This was contained in a press statement forwarded to newsmen by the Senior Program Officer, Kola Ogunbiyi.

The group said it received with excitement the news of the passage of the Ekiti State Disability Law. The passage of this law by Ekiti State government is a total adoption of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 which prohibits discrimination and other harmful practices against persons with disabilities.

The group also commended the Speaker and members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Ekiti State and the Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on SDGs as well as organisations of persons with disabilities in Ekiti State for the coordinated efforts to secure the passage of the Ekiti State Disability bill.

With the passage of this bill, Ekiti State has joined States like: Lagos, Anambra, Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Jigawa, and Bauchi States on the list of progressive but disability friendly State.

It would be recalled that during the implementation of CCD’s project on Access to Healthcare Services for Persons with Disabilities in Ekiti State, a project which was supported by Disability Rights Fund, (DRF), CCD had interface with line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), particularly the Office for Disability Affairs Ekiti State on the need to have a legal framework that will enhance access, participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in development agenda in the state.

CCD said “It gladdens our hearts that the administration of Governor Fayemi with the signing of the Law has moved disability issues from charity-based approach to a right based approach. This gesture will reduce barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the state to operate on equal basis with others.

“We sincerely believe that the appointment of a person with disability as Senior Special Adviser on Disability Matters will help hasten the full implementation of the Law in the state having already established Office for Disability Affairs before now.

“We would like to assure Ekiti State government, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders of CCD’s willingness to provide technical support for the operationalization of the Law in the State to address the attitudinal, environmental and structural barriers that could impede the full implementation of the Law.”

“CCD by this medium congratulates all persons with disabilities in Ekiti State for attaining this height in the struggle for an inclusive society in the State.”