2019 Disability Day: FG to establish National Commission for Persons with Disabilities

The federal government says it is set to establish a National
Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities to enhance
inclusiveness and enable them contribute their quota to national
development.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, stated
this in a keynote address at an event to celebrate International
Day for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Promoting the
participation of persons with disability and their leadership:
Taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda.”

December 3 of every year was declared International Day of PWDs
by the UN General Assembly following Resolution 43/3 of 14th
October, 1992.

Ms Farouq said disability had been identified as both a right
and development, pushing it to the front burner of national
development.

She thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the
Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act
after 18 years of long struggle.

The Act provides for the full integration of PWDs into
society.

It aims at establishing a National Commission for PWDs that will
be vested with the responsibilities for the education, health,
social, economic and civil rights of PWDs.

“My priority will be to ensure that the Commission for Persons
Living with Disabilities is established in the country,” Ms Farouq
declared.

Amina Shamaki, who represented Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said about 15 per cent of world
population are living with some forms of disabilities.

“About 25 million Nigerians live with disabilities. These set of
people always face physical, social and attitudinal barriers that
exclude them from mixing effectively with other members of the
society,” he said.

The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Betty
Apiafi, who represented the Senate President, said PWDs in Nigeria
were competent persons with tremendous abilities that should not be
underestimated.

“PWDs must be treated and given the necessary support they need
to excel.

“Today is another opportunity to remind ourselves of what we
need to do to ensure proper integration of our brothers and sisters
with disabilities in the society.

“However, we are happy that the disability bill has been passed
into law.

“We believe that with the new law, it will surely make it easy
for PWDs to be more involved in leadership and all sectors of our
economy,” Lawal said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen,
admonished Nigerians to change their attitude towards PWDs.

“Our attitude towards them should be the type that will help
them realise their potentials. My ministry is willing to support
PWDs and all agencies handling activities targeted at giving them a
better life,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a high point of
the event was the inauguration of the Nigeria People’s Parliament
for persons with disabilities.

The event attracted officials from ministries of interior,
education, Federal Capital Territory, MTN Foundation, NGOs and
other relevant stakeholders.

Copies of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability
(Prohibited) Act, were distributed to participants at the event.
(NAN)