A Coalition of Disability Organisations (CODO) has urged the Federal Government to include persons with disabilities in the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and other Palliatives for vulnerable groups.
The group warned that if the government keeps foot-dragging on their demands, they will leave members with no other choice than to come out enmasse and disrupt the ongoing Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) exercise anywhere it is being held as well as equally disrupt PTF COVID-19 briefings in Abuja and nationwide.
In a statement signed by the Interim Convener, CODO, Dr Chike Okogwu; Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD, David Anyaele; Kemi Ogunjinrin; Isaac Nosa Ehigiator; Muhammad Bulkachawa; Christian Agbo; Dr. Irene Patrick Ojiugo; Lynda Katai Dung; Ayuba Burki Gufwan; Vivian Odimegwu; Patience Ogolo-Dickson; Biodun Olugbade; Mohammed Bello Suleiman; and Comrade Oyedeji Olusegun Abayomi, the group said it had shelved it earlier decision to defy the stay at home order and risk their lives to disrupt the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 Hon. Danjuma Atta, the Senior Special Adviser on Disability matters to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development had pleaded with them to meet with their representatives in the Ministry’s office on Monday 6th April, 2020 to resolve all the issues raised.
However, the meeting was yet to hold till date.
The group led by its Interim Convener, Dr. Chike Okogwu said “To our greatest irritation, the government has continued to ignore us again and again by paying mere lip service for the cameras with no concrete plan to address our issues raised in this COVID-19 season which is sign of abysmal neglect and marginalization of over 25 million Nigerians with Disabilities.”
“By way of notice, this coalition, just as we did to push for the signing into law of our Disabilities Rights Act (2018) has resolved to demand for our rights even a great risks to our lives to disrupt the PTF briefings to show the world how insensitive our government is to the plights of persons with disabilities in the time of emergencies. No Retreat! No Surrender!!” It said
The group said it had earlier made some demands from the government including that the PTF on COVID-19 should present a clear-cut plan on how to provide palliatives for persons with disabilities.
It also demanded that the provision of such palliatives should start immediately because persons with disabilities are most vulnerable among other social groups, while adding that a person with disability should be appointed as a member of the PTF.
The group also listed that the Minister should as a matter of urgency include PWDs in the CCT program, but will not accept cash payments members have traceable addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts and BVN.
The group added that since the government has failed to do the above, that the members have no other choice than to come out enmasse and disrupt further PTF briefing and CCT exercise, noting that their actions are backed by the law.
They said the UN Treaty where Nigeria is a signatory, mandates in its Article 4, titled General Obligation, especially, in section 4.3 that: “In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities including children with disabilities through their representative organizations.”
But they lamented that the law was not considered as no person with disability is a member of the PTF on COVID-19, noting that it was unfortunate since the Nigeria Disability Act 2018 prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities.
“The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has clearly discriminated against us.The law imposes a fine of one million naira on corporate bodies. PTF on COVID-19 should be fined,” the group said.
The group also stated that rights and privileges of persons with disability include education, health care, priority in accommodation and emergencies, hence, COVID-19 is a global emergency.
“All public organisations are to reserve at least five per cent of employment opportunities for these persons. PTF on COVID-19 is not exempt from this.
“Part 5, Article 25 of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 clearly states that: “In all situations of risk, violence, emergencies and the occurrences of natural disasters, the government shall take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of persons with disabilities taking cognizance of their vulnerability”.
The group added, “You would recall that this Government signed Disability bill into law which provides that at a time like this, PWDs should be first priority, we are surprised that the government is not implementing the same law they enacted and demand that government rises up to their responsibility especially for over 25 million PWDs amongst whom, many of them can’t see, can’t walk, can’t hear, can’t sit or dress themselves up.”
“We are demanding that government works in accordance with the law of the land as contained in the Nigeria Disability Rights Act.”
“As the ministry sees no need to listen to us and resolve our issues in a time like this when our members Nationwide are suffering untold hardship due the lockdown, we shall be carrying out our constitutional responsibilities in FCT, States and Ward levels to ensure that we don’t just keep quiet and die of hunger,” they warned.