Centre for Citizens with Disabilities has proposed the amendment of petroleum industry bill. It called for a 5% benefit set aside in the projects and activities for Persons with Disabilities in the host community development.
The executive director, David Anyaele made the call at the Public hearing on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the house of representatives on Thursday.
Anyaele spoke on CCD’s position on the Bill for an Act to provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigeria Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Community and other Related Matters (HB.1061).
He thanked the leadership of the House of Representatives, in particular the Chairman House Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill for the opportunity to present CCD’s position on the PIB Bill.
He believes that PIB provide an uncommon opportunity to write the wrongs against persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta.
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Anyaele said “Observation shows that oil and gas explorations in Nigeria are conducted at the detriment of persons with disabilities
“We are concern that virtually all the support given to host communities by reason of oil and gas explorations are not accessible to persons with disabilities and they are not consulted, neither are their issues mainstreamed in the conversation.
“We are worried that when pollution occurs in the Niger Delta, it is people with disabilities that suffers most.
“Painfully, the activities and contaminants being pushed into the environment as a result of oil and gas explorations in the Niger Delta region, sometime leads to still birth and birth with different form of disability (hearing disorder, blindness, physical challenged etc.)
“Therefore, It is justice for all to demand that the Bill for an Act to provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigeria Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Community and other Related Matters (HB.1061) provide a certain percentage of not less than 5% of projects and activities should therefore be set aside for the benefit of persons with disabilities in the Host Community Development Trust Fund.
David therefore proposed that these sections be added in the Bill to read as follows;
242: (a) Settlor shall ensure that members of the Board of Trustees are inclusive of women and persons with disabilities
247. (a.i.b) three representatives, women, person with disability inclusive of the Host Community, who shall be nominated by the Host Community as non-executive members.
251. 3(a.i.b) consulted with and considered the reasonable concerns of women, youths, persons with disabilities and Community leaders
“We request that you add in section 252, subsection (h) to read as follows: ensure that all initiatives are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.” He said.