Stakeholders have been urged to make concerted effort towards problems assailing people with disabilities in Nigeria in commemoration of United Nations International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD).
This call was made by Comrade Issa Aremu, Director General of foremost Nigerian Labour institute, Micheal Imodu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) in a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.
Aremu said this year’s celebration of IDPwD themed ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with and by persons with disabilities’ provides Nigeria with the opportunity to celebrate the disability community, and strive towards creating a better society for them.
“The theme for this year’s celebration of the United Nations International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with and by persons with disabilities’ provides Nigeria with the opportunity to celebrate its diverse disability community, and strengthen work towards creating a better society and achieving the sustainable development goals.” he said.
Aremu while lamenting the challenges facing the people with disabilities in Nigeria, noted that the institute is using the day to remind Nigerians on the importance of factoring their needs into both the national development plans and sustainable development goals.
“MINILS seeks to use the day to remind Nigerians about the precariousness of workers and Nigerians with disabilities and the imperative to factor their needs into both the national development plans and sustainable development goals.
“There are too many impediments on the path of the people with disabilities in Nigeria regardless of the fact that the Nigerian government has established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in line with section (31) of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018 and appointed a senior special assistant on disability matters in 2023” the DG said.
The Director General, however, revealed that the institute under his leadership have been including people with disabilities in its activities in the past two and a half years.
He stressed that,“This year’s IDPwD and theme perfectly amplifies the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities in Nigeria and the urgency for stakeholders to collaboratively work harder to make Nigeria more hospitable, conducive and equitable for the about 27Million Nigerians with disabilities”, he added.