The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities under the visionary leadership of the Executive Secretary, Mr James David Lalu during a courtesy visit to the office of the Director General, National Orientation Agency recently in Abuja, proposed to synergize with the organization for a far reaching public awareness of the operationalization of the 2018 Disability law.
Recounting the antecedents of previous governments in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary informed the meeting of the uncommon dedication and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to ending the discrimination against Persons With Disabilities when he signed into law the 2018 disability Act.
However, Lalu lamented the degree of stigmatization from some highly placed Nigerians whose behaviour he stated was spurned out of ignorance.
“You will be amazed that some persons still assume that certain disabilities are contagious and this makes them to treat PWDs with utmost disdain” he asserted.
Speaking further, the Executive Secretary announced that the leadtime for the awareness on the workings of the disabilities law will elapse by 2024 in order to create a window for full enforcement of the law.
In his welcome address, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari expressed total readiness to help the Commission propagate its advocacy on the compliance with the disability Act.
He Said the National Orientation Agency has not rest on its oars since the 2018 Act came into existence.
“We shall establish a bilateral committee who will collaborate directly with the staff of the Commission to develop a veritable Communication Strategy that will boost the awareness Creation at various grassroots of the Nigerian communities”.
Dr. Abari equally hinted on the agency’s prescriptions to INEC for adequate capturing and participation of persons with disabilities during voting exercise.
“We will also seek your inputs in all our public awareness and sensitization programmes for effective inclusivity, he promised”.