To further strengthen the advocacy drive on the compliance and enforcement of the 2018 Disability law, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr James David Lalu has led a team of officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to the palace of the traditional ruler (Ona) of Abaji, Alhaji Amed Baba Yunusa recently in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the meeting, Lalu seized the occasion to lay emphasis on the role of traditional rulers in community development and the attainments of governments’ policies and programmes for the people.
“We cannot achieve good governance without the influence of our revered traditional rulers and royal fathers because of the significant role they play in the lives of the people”, he said.
He further stated that some policies of government might fail if there were no buy-in from the people they govern.
Representing the Commandant General, NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi at the event was the National Disability Desk officer, Deputy Commandant, Patience Ogabanya Andepu who reiterated the Corps’ commitments to strict adherence by the public after the expiration of the moratorium of the Act in the next eight months.
In his response, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa expressed his profound gratitude to the Executive Secretary NCPWD and the Commandant General NSCDC for their collaborative efforts in bringing succor to the lives Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.
The royal father while addressing his Council of chiefs, emphasized the importance of inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the community and urged them to report any discrimination against PWDs at any given time.
However, it is important to recall that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps established a working partnership in November, 2022 towards ensuring a formidable taskforce that will protect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.