Stakeholders in the disability rights sector, including civil society organisations, persons with disabilities (PWDs), lawyers, government officials, and media practitioners, have renewed calls for the review and alignment of the Delta State Disability Law with Nigeria’s National Disability Act, citing low public awareness and critical gaps in the state legislation.

The call was made during a two-day media training organised under the Disability Rights Advocacy Project (D-RAPID) and implemented in Delta State by TAF Africa. The training brought together journalists and key actors in the disability rights space to strengthen advocacy, improve media engagement, and promote effective implementation of disability laws at the sub-national level.

Participants expressed concern that despite the domestication of the national disability law by Delta State, many citizens, employers, and duty bearers remain largely unaware of its provisions, a situation they said has continued to limit compliance, enforcement, and the overall impact of the law on the lives of persons with disabilities.

Recall that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, was signed into law in January 2019. The Act prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities and guarantees their rights to education, healthcare, employment, and accessibility. It also established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to promote social inclusion, ensure access to public infrastructure, and enforce a minimum five per cent employment quota for PWDs in public organisations.

Speaking at the training held in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the State Coordinator of the D-RAPID Project, Dr. Godwin Adaji, said the initiative focuses on strengthening advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities in Delta and Benue states. He explained that journalists were deliberately targeted to drive public awareness and influence policy implementation.

“One of the key issues we discovered is that although Delta State has passed the disability law, many people, including employers and duty bearers, are not aware of its provisions. We believe that by training journalists, awareness will increase significantly, and this will promote better enforcement of the law,” Adaji said.

Dr. Adaji further noted that while many states domesticated the National Disability Act following Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, some provisions in the Delta State law fall short of national standards, particularly in the area of employment quotas.

According to him, the National Act provides that at least five per cent of employment opportunities should be reserved for persons with disabilities. However, the Delta State law stipulates that only one per cent of employees in organisations with a minimum of 100 staff must be persons with disabilities, leaving smaller employers exempt.

“This means that organisations with fewer than 100 employees are not required to employ a person with disability. We are saying this should be corrected to align fully with the five per cent provision of the National Act,” he stated.

Also speaking, Senior Communication Officer at TAF Africa, Lynn Agwuncha, said the media engagement was designed to address persistent challenges in how disability issues are framed in the Nigerian media. She observed that persons with disabilities are often portrayed as objects of pity or charity cases rather than as rights holders.

“The media has not done a fair job in the way persons with disabilities are presented. They are often shown as beggars or people to be pitied, instead of being reported from a rights-based perspective that promotes dignity and inclusion,” Agwuncha said.

She stressed that journalists play a critical role in shaping public perception and challenging harmful stereotypes, adding that the training aims to equip them with the skills to report disability issues with professionalism, integrity, and respect for human rights.
Agwuncha further urged journalists to take ownership of disability reporting beyond the training, encouraging them to independently pursue stories that highlight both challenges and successes within the disability community.

“We expect journalists to consistently report on disability issues, examine the provisions of the law, and support persons with disabilities through impactful storytelling. While we will provide technical support where necessary, this process must be driven by the media,” she said.

She added that the D-RAPID project also includes media monitoring and follow-up support, with refresher trainings planned if gaps are identified over time, to allow journalists adequate time to apply their learning.

The D-RAPID project aims to improve visibility, strengthen advocacy, and promote the full implementation of disability rights laws, particularly at the sub-national level.

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Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Rivers State have formally presented a seven-point communiqué to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for comprehensive reforms to guarantee their full participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The communiqué was submitted during a visit to the INEC Rivers State office by a coalition of disability leaders and members, in partnership with the Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN). The group protested what they described as persistent exclusion of persons with disabilities from voter registration, election processes, and political decision-making.

Leading the delegation, Barrister Prince Amuda Chigozie Thedos, representing the visually impaired community, said the engagement was aimed at drawing attention to systemic barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from meaningfully participating in elections. He stressed that PWDs are ready and willing to contribute to electoral planning and governance at both state and national levels.

Among their key demands, the group urged INEC to establish PWD desk offices in all 23 local government offices in Rivers State, staffed by qualified persons with disabilities. They also called for the inclusion of PWDs in voter education, Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), and election operations at ward and polling-unit levels to strengthen transparency and public trust.

The communiqué further raised concerns about election-related violence, urging INEC to collaborate with security agencies to train officers on safeguarding persons with disabilities before, during, and after elections. The group noted that electoral violence poses heightened risks to PWDs due to mobility and communication challenges.

The advocates also appealed to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to compel political parties to mainstream disability inclusion in their structures and leadership. They called on parties to sponsor and support candidates with disabilities and ensure their representation in decision-making processes.

In addition, the group urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to domesticate and fully implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, particularly provisions that guarantee political participation. They also recommended intensified public awareness campaigns through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society groups, and traditional and religious institutions to promote disability inclusion.

The communiqué highlighted the urgent need for accessible polling units, including the provision of braille ballot guides, sign language interpreters, trained election officials, and the allowance of caregivers to assist voters with disabilities where necessary. The group also advocated early voting options and priority access for persons with mobility challenges.
Responding on behalf of INEC, the Administrative Secretary in Rivers State, Dr. (Mrs.) Angela Ebudari, commended the delegation for advocating their constitutional rights. She outlined existing INEC initiatives such as online CVR, priority registration for PWDs, and decentralised ward-level registration, while acknowledging gaps in the availability of assistive tools.

Dr. Ebudari assured the delegation that their concerns would be escalated to relevant authorities for further action.

The meeting ended with renewed calls from disability advocates for sustained engagement and concrete steps to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in Rivers State’s democratic and governance processes.

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The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has congratulated the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as a committed leader with a passion for service and social inclusion.

In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, the NCPWD praised Dr. Doro’s dedication to humanitarian service, poverty reduction, and policies that positively impact vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities across Nigeria.

The Commission noted that the Minister’s leadership and experience have continued to strengthen initiatives aligned with the empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities, adding that his vision resonates strongly with the core mandate of the NCPWD.

Chief Gufwan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with Dr. Doro to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism that more empowerment opportunities and inclusive policies would be achieved under the Minister’s leadership. He also wished Dr. Doro good health, wisdom, and continued success in service to the nation.

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