The immediate past chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Dr. Adebukola Adebayo has charged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to set precedents for long-term positive improvements on the lives of children with disabilities.
Adebayo gave the charge in a statement made available to Inclusive News Network in response to the 59th birthday celebration of the Governor with children with disabilities across Lagos.
While commending the governor for the birthday celebration with children with disabilities, Adebayo charged the state governor to prioritise long-term improvement.
He said, “We appreciate Mr Governor for celebrating with children with disabilities. However, what long-term positive improvements does these kind of gestures bring into the lives of these children? How much attention is His Excellency giving to the quality of education, health care, rehabilitation and other social services required by these children?
Speaking on the Lagos State disability law, the ex-JONAPWD chair said, “the Lagos state disability law is one of the most poorly implemented disability laws in Nigeria. The disability office is poorly staffed and those currently working in that office are not getting the required capacity to deliver their duties.
“The implementation of the State’s policy on inclusive education is faced with several challenges. Lagos state does not currently have any framework to support provision of early care and intervention for children with disabilities just as there isn’t any operating procedures to facilitate access to basic health services. These are just a few of the difficulties confronted by children with disabilities in Lagos state.
Adebayo urged governor Sanwo-olu to better celebrate with children with disabilities by making visible efforts to address these and other challenges that threaten the rights, welfare and social inclusion of children with disabilities in Lagos state.