Persons with disabilities in Adamawa State have called on the Governor of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to fulfill his commitment to the disability community by signing the amended Adamawa State Disability Rights Law and inaugurating members of the state Disability Rights Commission.
The appeal was made by the Rechard Bisane Foundation on behalf of persons with disabilities in the state, urging the governor to take the necessary steps to ensure the full implementation of the law aimed at protecting the rights and promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
According to the foundation, during the 2019 electioneering campaign, persons with disabilities under the platform of the PDP Disability Forum presented key demands to the governor, including employment opportunities, empowerment programmes, and the implementation of the Adamawa State Disability Rights Commission Law enacted in 2016. The group noted that the governor had assured the disability community that members of the commission would be inaugurated within his first one hundred days in office.
The foundation also recalled that on January 26, 2021, the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Adamawa State Chapter, led by Engr. Sani Sabo, paid a courtesy visit to the governor to reiterate the need for the implementation of the law. During that engagement, the governor reportedly assured stakeholders that the law would be implemented before the end of his tenure.
However, the disability community expressed concern that as the current administration approaches the end of its tenure, the amended disability law is yet to be signed, despite its importance in safeguarding the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities in the state.
The group noted that the Adamawa State House of Assembly repealed the earlier version of the law in 2024 to align it with the national disability framework, and stakeholders are now anticipating the governor’s assent to the amended legislation and the inauguration of the commission’s governing board.
The Rechard Bisane Foundation emphasized that signing the law and operationalizing the commission would significantly advance inclusion, strengthen protection against discrimination, and ensure that persons with disabilities benefit from government programmes and democratic governance in the state.
While expressing appreciation for the efforts of the administration so far, the foundation maintained that fulfilling the long-standing commitment would reinforce the governor’s legacy as a leader dedicated to justice, equality, and inclusive development.
The statement was signed by Comrade Bitrus Richard, Executive Director of the Rechard Bisane Foundation.
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