The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Persons with disability in Plateau State have solicited support from concerned groups and individuals to enable them to review the obsolete Disability Rights Act in the State and ensure its implementation for the good of the community.
The Plateau State Act came into effect in 2005 and saw the establishment of the State Disability Rights Commission, but no other aspect of the Act, which is now obsolete, has been implemented.
The people made the appeal in Jos during an advocacy visit to the Commission by the Centre for Gospel Health and Development, CeGHaD, and Heart of Hope, two partner organizations supported by the Christian Blind Mission, CBM.
The leader of the delegation, Ama Dimka, who is a Project Officer (CeGHaD), said the advocacy visit was in line with the Bold Actions to Strengthen Inclusive Care in Communities, BASIC project which seeks to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through the facilitation of community-based inclusive programs.
She stated that the purpose of the visit was to “push for the implementation of the State Disability Rights Act to improve the living conditions of people living with disabilities.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Disability Rights Commission, Lengnen Jurmang, stressed the need for the promotion of inclusion of people living with disabilities in all developmental aspects, hence the need to implement, update, and implement the Act to ameliorate the challenges faced by people living with disabilities.
He said, “The law has not been tested since it came into existence. To update the obsolete segments of the law is capital intensive, and we don’t have the resources; we are appealing to civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and everyone to come to our aid. This meeting is about updating and implementing the law to address the shortcomings of the law.
“For example, the law doesn’t state the required punishment for wrongdoings. If any Ministry, Department, Agency, or MDA discriminates against any person with a disability in terms of employment, the law doesn’t state any punishment to be meted out. If these are clearly stated, they will help, like what we are seeing in Uganda, Tanzania, and others.”
The visit also had stakeholders from communities in Mangu and others who all highlighted their challenges, how they are being addressed, and how an effective law can make life more meaningful for them.
