Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and all members of the Plateau State Executive Council on Wednesday, December 11 approved a Bill which seeks to establish the Disability Trust Fund for people with disabilities in Plateau state.
The bill according to a statement gathered by INN will be funded by a percentage of the state’s internally generated revenue.
The Bill also seek to expand Disability Rights to free Education, Health, employment, accessibility, political appointments at state and Local Government Council etc.
INN gathers that the re-enactment has repealed the Plateau State Indigines with disabilities Commission Law 2005.
When asked about the Bill, the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, Chairman, James Lalu told INN that the new bill, which seeks to establish the Plateau State Disability Trust fund will be funded by a percentage of the lGR of the state. It will also have persons with disabilities enjoying free education, free medical services in Government Hospitals especially for women. It also makes discrimination punishable. It also provides employment reservation and political appointment for PWDs at 5%.
“The law also makes it compulsory for the appointment of at least one PWD as supervisory councillor at local Govt and Commissioner at the state.”
“All Govt Programmes must have at least 5% reserved for benefiting PWD whether initiated by the state Govt or donor funded. Exclusion of PWD from any public programs either by Govt or NGOs is not criminal in Plateau” James added.
The approved bill also makes it mandatory that the Chairman of the Commission must be a PWD while compulsory representation of the Blind, Deaf and PWPD in the Commission is enshrined.
2 comments
Good idea
That is a very good development, I pray that other states will follow them.