The General Manager, Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo has described disability inclusion as critical to governance and peace.
Mr Ogundairo made this statement at a one day workshop for senior officials in local government administration in Lagos State, on the ‘Lagos State Special Peoples’ Law and Inclusive Governance at the Grassroots’, organised by LASODA.
The General Manager said, “there is the need to carry everybody along, whether able-bodied or people with disabilities so that all could contribute to the progress and development of any Ministry, Department or Agency they found themselves.”
Continuing, he said, “the workshop is organised to re-orientate all tiers of government on the need to make use of the recommendation of the Lagos State Special Peoples’ Law, especially in tandem with the current administration’s policy, which stipulates that workers in all MDAs should be carried along in the day-to-day administration of the office they find themselves and that there should be no discrimination of any kind.”
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Mr. Ogundairo also stressed that, “no-one should be left behind in decision making and there should be no discrimination.”
Speaking about the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Proscription) Act of Nigeria, the GM said it was to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Special Peoples Law which had been in existence for almost a decade ago and ensure that the rights of persons living with disabilities in Lagos State are protected.
While giving his remark at the workshop, the Lagos State Chairman of the Joint National Association of People with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, hinted that “government agencies have a lot to do regarding disability-inclusion in the state.”
He noted that the government cannot do it alone, but must be willing to lead by example, for private sectors to follow suit.
Also in attendance at the workshop were senior officials in local governments and people with disabilities.