Persons with Disabilities have called for a restructuring of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). The leading argument for the call is that current structure of the body is insufficient to serve purpose for enacting the Lagos State Special People’s Law (LSSPL).
The chairman, National Association of the Blind, Lagos State Chapter, Bolarinwa Salami made the call at a one day event organized by Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with support from Voice Nigeria.
According to Salami: “the situation calls for a review. As it’s now, lot of things need to be done. LASODA should be restructured to include special departments, and there should be capacity building and appointment of trained counseling professionals in each department.
“These professional counselors will look at the needs of different disability clusters. Until we have departments for the Blind, the Deaf, Intellectual Disabilities, etc, LASODA may not service its purpose.”
Salami says: “PWDs suffer stereotypes without access to justice. There are many things about people’s perceptions of Persons with disabilities which needs proper enlightenment. PWDs should be served the same way others are served. It is the duty of the government to provide for well being of the citizens, including PWDs”
Participants at the event
In a swift response to calls for restructuring of LASODA as presently constituted, the General Manager, Mr. Dare Dairo has urged for caution by reminding all concerned that the Lagos State Special People’s Law has done a lot for PWDs since its inception and that LASODA is working assiduously to ensure enough provisions are made for all PWDs clusters.
Represented by Director, Monitoring Evaluation and Orientation at LASODA, Mr. Akintunde Oguntoye, Dare drew attention to the desirable outcomes of the law which gave over 250 PWDs employment opportunities, reinstated two senior blind lecturers sacked for losing their sights, and led to the building of accessible ramps along Lekki-Epe Express road, among others.
He continues, ‘we know we have some challenges, however, we are working round the clock and will get there with time. It is unfair to say that the current structure will never work for PWDs. It is okay to ask for a review, then we will see how we work together to ensure LASODA works for all PWDs’.
Oluwatayo Olubukola, Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership
Speaking at the event, Oluwatayo Olubukola, a representative of Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership assured of pro-bono legal services for access to justice for Persons with Disabilities.
She noted thus: “We know the situation of some people in the country who can’t afford our services or buy recharge card for phone calls. We have therefore ceeated a WhatsApp group to attend to these needs. For those who might call us, someone is always there to answer. The law responds immediately.
“We always make our clients comfortable. If you don’t like a lawyer, you simply lodge a complain and we change that lawyer. We do that often and it has been working. 08170282967 is our active contact number for WhatsApp.
David Obinna Anyaele, Executive Director, CCD
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD, Executive Director, David Anyaele, who was also at the program, urged Persons with Disabilities to take part in political leadership with support of functional access to justice.
“What we are doing today is to deepen our knowledge of what it takes to make participation of PWDs in political leadership possible through access to justice”,
David says “We can’t play politics equally with others if we do not have the security of justice. Access to Justice is important, it is the bedrock for political participation, including leadership.
Deaf/sign language interpreters with CCD ED
Kingsley Njoku, Assistant Secretary General, Lagos State Association of the Deaf, LSAD, wants all-round access to justice for people with disabilities.
He charges stakeholders to create more awareness for enlightenment of Persons with Disabilities on the Lagos State Special People’s Law, adding that awareness is important for people with disabilities to know their rights.
Njoku thanked Rule Of Law And Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) for enlightening the Deaf community on their rights to access justice.
“Most of our Deaf women passively suffer domestic violence. It is a good thing that ROLAC has enlightened us on how to access justice in such cases”, he said.