Hon. Gufwan Outlines NCPWD Achievements As The World Marks International Day Of Persons With Disabilities
The Albino Foundation Public Notice
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Hon. Ayuba Gufwan has outlined various achievements by the Commission following the signing of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, he reiterated the commission’s determination to creating more awareness on the act and the drive to collaborate with stakeholders towards achieving the strategic goals of the commission.
The Executive Secretary disclosed these during a press conference in Abuna to mark the 2024 United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
His speech reads:
‘Today marks another chapter in our quest to recognize our efforts in redefining disability advocacy and celebration of efforts made by persons with disabilities in the society. As we join others worldwide to commemorate this day beginning with a walk, I want us to reflect on the importance of this day.
‘As we all know, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) is a creation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, with the mandate to protect, promote and enforce the rights of persons with disabilities.
“This is predicated upon the bedrock of the principle that says that where there is a right, there is a remedy. As a Commission, we are also charged with the responsibility of creating awareness using departments and units in the Commission to ensure the monitoring of the level of compliance with the Act and carry out enforcements as the case may be. Some of these enforcements go as far as sealing defaulting premises and sites.
“As part of our efforts towards awareness and advocacy, the Commission, along with other partners, is working towards a memorable International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, Monday, December 2nd, and tomorrow December 3rd.
“Here in the city of Abuja, Nigeria, like in other cities around the world, we shall begin with a walk to be led by my humble self from the National Headquarters of the Commission to the Unity Fountain and tomorrow, there will be a National Dialogue at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
“The events will bring together top government dignitaries, policy experts, development partners and diplomatic community to speak and brainstorm on issues relating to advancing the course of persons with disabilities.
“Part of our effort during this event is to seek ways that will address the challenges faced by the PWDs, with the aim of looking at modalities to harness opportunities that are available for the over 25% of persons with disabilities in the global population; and the estimated 35 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
“As a Commission, we are working assiduously to create opportunities that would promote awareness, understanding, and inclusivity for persons with disabilities, and this year’s event presents such opportunity for us as we seek to tap into the global effort to promote inclusive development, diversity, accessibility, equity, and the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The road walk is tagged “Road Walk for Disability Inclusion and national dialogue on “Transformative Solutions for Disability-Inclusive Development in Nigeria”; while the National Dialogue is on the “Transformative Solutions to Disability – Inclusive Development in Nigeria.
“Permit me to also use this opportunity to tell the world about my vision for the Commission and the PWDs community.
“First, I wish to state that under my watch, the Commission shall align itself whole-heartedly with the full actualization of the philosophy and purpose of the Disability Act and NCPWD’s 5-year Strategic Plan (2022-2027).
“My team and I in the Commission acknowledge the good works of our partners and stakeholders and pledge that we will continue to appreciate and sustain the working relationship with more effective collaboration with all strategic partners and stakeholders.
“I realize the need to define and develop a National Disability Inclusion Architecture (NDIA) upon which we shall drive the process that will help Nigeria achieve full implementation of the Disability Act at multisectoral scale, this we shall do.
“By the definition of a National Disability Inclusion Architecture (NDIA), we will be able to identify and prioritize the core elements or strategic pillars upon which we can build and sustain the very complex process and structures of all encompassing social inclusion for PWDs in Nigeria.
“The NDIA will therefore help NCPWD consolidate the institutional and infrastructural foundation required to drive and sustain social inclusion for the over 30 million PWDs in Nigeria.
“The proposed NDIA is anchored on six key pillars namely:
I. Strengthening of governance and institutional structure of NCPWD and other institutions and levels of government statutorily involved in implementation of the Disability Act.
II. Development of National Disability Database.
III. Enforcement of physical and digital accessibility across sectors.
IV. Facilitation of access of PWDs to assistive technologies.
V. Support for equal access to employment and economic empowerment.
VI. Strategic public awareness.
“The implementation of this NDIA will adopt a multisectoral approach; that would allow the Commission to drive inclusion and access for PWDs across all sectors of life. This way, it will help NCPWD achieve inclusion and access of PWDs to basic social services and economic opportunities including education, health, social protection, public transportation, public buildings and spaces, digital infrastructure, legal support and justice, the electoral process, hospitality and recreation, etc.
“Therefore, in line with the six NDIA pillars listed above, our quick to-dos within the next one year include but not limited to:
(a) Sustain and expand on current governance and institutional strengthening interventions where we shall be facilitating more strategic capacity-building for staff of the Commission and other stakeholders; and set-up more inter-agency collaborative mechanisms between NCPWD and other institutions and levels of government; as well as set-up the National Council on Disability; and work with the 36 states and FCT to support 774 local government councils to set-up LGA Disability Support Unit across Nigeria.
(b) Develop and finalize the digital infrastructure that will support development of a stand-alone National Disability Database. This will be done in collaboration with state and local governments. NCPWD will also sustain and expand inter-agency collaborative mechanisms with national statistical and data management agencies to achieve disability-disaggregation of major national databases.
(c) Commence pilot phase implementation of the National Accessibility Regulation, where NCPWD will engage the FCT and 6 states (one each from the six geopolitical zones) to commence the first pilot phase implementation of the Accessibility regulation. Strategic engagement with stakeholders (especially tertiary academic institutions and professional bodies in the built industry) and continuous public awareness on the accessibility regulation will be stepped up.
(d) Initiate the development and implementation of a National Regulation on Access of PWDs to digital infrastructure, Assistive Technologies and Devices. To actualize this, the NCPWD will hold a National Summit to harvest relevant inputs from all existing initiatives on assistive technologies with effort on exploring strategic partnership with international manufacturers and vendors of assistive technologies and devices with a view to creating opportunities for development of local capacity.
(e) Commence full implementation of the National Framework on Access of PWDs to formal employment. NCPWD will commence strategic engagement with the Nigeria Business Disability Network (NBDN) to explore opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration. In line with the Access to Work Framework, NCPWD will, in its 2025 Budget, set aside reasonable resources to provide work assistive technologies and devices for PWDs who get employment with private sector employers.
(f) In line with provisions of the Disability Act, NCPWD will engage with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to design and implement a robust strategic national public awareness exercise on disability inclusion. The Commission will also hold town halls and stakeholders consultation across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
(g) The Commission will, in line with its regulatory functions, continue to produce sectoral regulations, guidelines, standards operating procedures (SOPs) and frameworks in collaboration with federal MDAs with a view to ensuring full compliance with provisions of the Disability Act. It is by so doing that PWDs will directly feel the impact of the Commission’s work.
(h) Finally, the Commission looks forward to full support from its partners to, in the shortest possible time, establish all the six pillars of this National Disability Inclusion Architecture (NDIA).
PROGRESS MADE SO FAR
“Since my appointment as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), I have embarked on transformation in the areas of disability advocacy, ambitious initiatives, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships to mention a few, all in advancing the rights, welfare, and opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Nigeria. Some of these include:
1. Scholarship Scheme Expansion for Inclusive Education
To ensure educational inclusivity, we introduced NCPWD’s second scholarship scheme for undergraduate students with disabilities studying in public tertiary institutions. This initiative aims to reduce financial barriers, empowering PWD students to pursue higher education and contribute to society. It reflects the Commission’s commitment to supporting the academic aspirations of students with disabilities in alignment with national policies on inclusive education.
2. Strategic Military Collaboration for Mobility Aids
Our collaboration with the Nigerian military highlights some of my proactive approaches to addressing specific needs within the PWD community. Discussions in this regard not only focused on producing prosthetics but also on obtaining mobility aids like wheelchairs and crutches for PWDs across Nigeria. This partnership represents a pioneering effort to bridge the gap between military and civilian disability services, underscoring NCPWD’s role in ensuring access to essential resources for PWDs.
3. Employment Opportunities in Civil Service and Colleges of Education
Under my leadership, the NCPWD has also sought to improve employment opportunities for PWDs. We have engaged the Federal Civil Service Commission and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to enforce the 5% employment quota for PWDs across all federal and educational institutions. These initiatives emphasize the need for equitable employment opportunities in both public and academic institutions, breaking down long-standing barriers faced by qualified PWDs in the job market.
4. Empowerment and Training through NDE Collaboration
In partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the Commission under my leadership secured 3,000 empowerment slots specifically for PWDs. This program offers training and grants, enabling PWDs to gain vocational skills, achieve financial independence, and foster entrepreneurship. This empowerment initiative is pivotal in creating sustainable economic opportunities for PWDs, in alignment with my vision of financial inclusivity.
5. Advancing Accessible Education with UBEC
My vision for educational advocacy necessitated collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to ensure that schools are physically accessible for students with disabilities. The partnership with UBEC is set to expand access to quality education, ensuring that school facilities are adapted to meet the needs of PWDs, thereby laying a foundation for inclusivity from primary education onwards.
6. Justice System Accessibility
As an Executive Secretary whose advocacy extends to the legal system, I have actively highlighted the urgent need for accessible court environments. In a national dialogue with legal stakeholders, I have called for resources like ramps, sign language interpreters, and braille materials to make the justice system inclusive for all PWDs. I have also emphasized that lawyers with disabilities face unique barriers, which need to be addressed for true inclusivity.
7. EFCC Cooperation for Inclusive Anti-Corruption Efforts
To embed disability-sensitive measures into Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, we have engaged with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to incorporate accessibility into its operations. This collaboration aims to set a standard for other institutions, promoting inclusivity in sectors traditionally less focused on PWDs.
8. Advocacy for Increased Funding and Financial Stability
For a more robust budget for the NCPWD, I led a team that met with Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas and proposed a significant increase in the Commission’s budget from N4 billion to an enhanced budget for 2025. This move underlines the need to fund scholarships, provide mobility aids, reconstruct accessible office facilities, and expand medical outreaches. This proposal allocates adequate funding per geopolitical zone, specifically for education scholarships, bursaries, empowerment programs, training, and essential mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, motorcycles, crutches, guide canes, braille machines, and hearing impairment devices.
9. Disability Allowance Advocacy with NSIWC
Under my leadership, we have met with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on introducing a disability allowance into the salary structure for PWDs. This bold initiative seeks to alleviate the additional financial burden many PWDs face, covering costs for essential support like guides, assistants, and interpreters, which are often necessary for PWDs to fulfill job responsibilities effectively.
10. Strengthening National Security for PWDs with DSS
Recent security concerns necessitated my meeting with Nigeria’s State Security Service (DSS) to discuss measures to protect PWDs, who are often disproportionately affected by violence, and urged the DSS to consider specialized security protocols. This partnership reinforces NCPWD’s dedication to ensuring the safety and dignity of all PWDs in Nigeria.
11. Plan for Comprehensive Data on Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria
Plans are underway for a comprehensive data on persons with disabilities in Nigeria. I recently met with the leadership of the National Population Commission (NPC) to address the absence of reliable data on persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. I and the Commission understand the urgent need for a detailed demographic data, which would include breakdowns on gender, age, and disability type. Such data is essential to budgeting, promoting meaningful inclusion, and developing policies tailored towards the needs of PWDs.
“Presently, the NCPWD lacks specific data on the population of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, making it difficult to advocate for adequate support or targeted programs, therefore accurate information on the number of men, women and children with disabilities, as well as their distribution across various disability clusters, would significantly enhance the commission’s capacity to support this community effectively.
“I am happy to state that the NPC outlined its plans for an advanced, digital national census that will utilize over 760,000 tablets to capture comprehensive data, including information on PWDs. This digital approach aims to ensure precise, geo-tagged data across Nigeria, providing local-level insights that will support policies and interventions for persons with disabilities.
“The collaboration between NCPWD and NPC marks a significant step towards closing the data gap, positioning Nigeria to foster a more inclusive environment where PWDs can receive the recognition and support they deserve.
12. Appreciation to our Development Partners
We extend our profound gratitude to our esteemed partners, which include the World Bank, Sightsavers, CBM International, CBM Global, the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, International IDEA (RoLAC), CHAI, and the British Council, for invaluable support and collaboration.
“Your commitment to promoting inclusive development, disability rights, and social change has been instrumental in driving positive impact and transformative change in the lives of the PWDs.
“Thank you for your unwavering partnership.
13. All Hands Must Be On Deck
Permit me to use this opportunity appeal to all stakeholders to support our bold reforms. I am aware that reforms often come with its measure of temporary pains, but at the end, it pays off for the common good of all.
“Therefore, stakeholders within the persons with disabilities ecosytem should give me and the management team a chance to enable us succeed in addressing the critical issues that has bedeviled the PWDs for some time now.
“While criticisms are welcomed, they must be constructive and well intentioned for the good of the Commission rather than employing underhand tactics to destroy the house being built by the new leadership.
“I was appointed by Mr President for a 4 – year tenure and it is expected that all hands should be on deck to support the Commission to pursue and actualize the vision, mission and mandate given to us by Mr. President.
“PWDs must not be allowed to be incited by mischief makers to destroy our own house. We must take note that ‘united we stand and divided we fall’. I enjoin us to foster unity for collective progress rather than aim to pull the house down through any guise.
“Thank you.*
