Dr. James David Lalu, the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities has appealed for a coherent consistent ordered service delivery in dealing with Persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary made this passionate appeal recently in Abuja during an official visit to the office of the Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In his address, Lalu reiterated that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has signed the Instrument of Ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa,
“This was as adopted by the Thirtieth Ordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the 29th January, 2018” he disclosed,
Further in his speech, Dr. Lalu shored up the position of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities 2018 (Prohibition) Act.
He restated that the law has gone beyond a period of awareness and advocacy and is now ready for a full implementation, starting from January 16th, 2024.
“A 5 year moratorium period was given which has also elapsed and as such, it is high time we ensured total compliance” He said
The Executive Secretary further revealed that the Commission has struck a strong alliance with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) with Desk offices in the 36 States of the Federation including the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja
The entente with Civil Defense Corps, he said “is largely to drive home the resolve by the Commission for the Enforcement and Compliance of the Prohibition Act and the Accessibility Standard of the Commission by Public Institutions”
Lalu earnestly asked the Hon. Minister to extend the same measures of understanding and opportunity to other Institutions under his purview such as the the Nigerian Immigration Services as section 26 of the Act stated that priorities should be given to Persons with disabilities in accessing government services as obtaining International Passports and other amenities pose a big challenge to PWDs.
“The Commission is desirous of enacting Desk offices within the Immigration Service in order to achieve these goals. And as section 28 and 29 of the Act stipulate, 5 percent of employment opportunities should also be reserved for us in all the Services of your Ministry” He further appealed.
The Executive Secretary also called on the improvement in the services rendered to PWDs in Correctional Facilities in order to access a hygienically advanced environment.
Responding to the Executive Secretary, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Honorable Minister of Interior reiterated President Tinubu’s resolve to bridge the gap between the “strong and the weak” in Nigeria through his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tunde -Ojo stated that Nation building is a joint task, hence, the Federal Ministry of Interior is open to partnership with the Commission in order to achieve an all inclusive Nigeria.