The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, (JONAPWD) Osun Chapter has urged the State Government to sign the forwarded bill into law to ensure person's with disability to live a comfortable life like others in the society.
The association made the call in a protest where all the members trooped out en masse today in Abere from the Osun Local Government Service Commission, heading to the office of the head of service and with a banner "JONAPWD" with the response "Sign our bill to law"
The group in their quest stated that the bill currently with the State ministry of Justice should be submitted to Governor Gboyega Oyetola to be signed to law for them to live a better life like their undisabled counterparts in the society.
Recall that the president of Nigeria, Major General Muhammad Buhari signed disability bill into law in January 2019 and forwarded it to state governments in Nigeria.
The law which prohibits all sort of discrimination against people with disability, also made provision for the fine of 100, 000 thousand for individuals and 1, 000 for organisations or a term of six month imprisonment for any violator.
The law also provides for a five year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobiles are to be modified to be accessible and usable for persons with Disabilities including those on wheelchairs.
Onitiju Kehinde
In his address, the former chairman of JONAPWD, Osun state, Onitiju Kehinde explained the needs to sign the bill into law as they also have the right to jobs, political posts and any other opportunities in the state, adding that the bills have been passed in the national level and it remains only Osun state out of all the southwest states to domesticate the law.
He said, "If the bill is passed into law today, before tomorrow the bill will be passed but it is withheld, if the bill is signed to law, we can never forget the name of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, like we cannot forget the name of Buhari, because the bill was passed during his administration and we'll always remember All Progressives Congress, APC and in the story of People with Disabilities in Osun state, he should use gold to write his name as he is leaving the office and sign the bill to law",
"We have been on it for over twenty two years even before the bill was forwarded, and we are pleading the government "
Speaking further, he said they are advocating for the bill not to be useless so it can become a law.
"If we don't speak out, they will forget us and they will not remember to sign any bill to law, which will lead to further suffering of People with Disability"
Also, while addressing the members, the Chairman of DONAPWD, Osun state, Femi Stephen noted that the support of each member is highly needed as to speak out for others that cannot come out to fight for the right.
Funmilayo Abdullah
Moreover, Mrs Funmilayo Abdullah, a member of the Association disclosed that there is need for the bill to be signed so as to have access to empowerment, employment opportunities and other that can make life easier for person's with disability.
She said, "We are pleading Osun state governor to sign the bill to law, because the disability law have been domesticated in other states, through this bill, we'll all live a better life.
We have graduates among us, there's no opportunity, we can also participate in the political process, we don't want to vote alone we can also be voted for, we want to have access to education, Health care, we want to be inclusive"
"We have people that are keeping their children at home, they don't want to send them to school because they know they will be sidelined, they deprive them the opportunity to go to school, we are really boiling" she said.
Speaking aggressively and explaining his plight, Ajekilekun jelili, blind, explained that the association will be glad if the bill is signed into law
Members in the protest
Jelili said, "They are delaying the bill, it ought to have been signed to law, we are suffering in Osun state, we'll be happy if they sign it to law, there will be employment and empowerment, education will also be easy for us"
Yekini Lekan, said the bill has taken too long to be signed and it is affecting their well being.
He said, " The bill has been signed since 2019 and we expect them to have signed it by now but all our efforts proved abortive, we are appealing to Osun state governor to sign the bill to law, the bill entails a lot of things, we are tired of living a vulnerable life especially those of us that are begging on the street, it become a shame for us that are not begging, and we have nothing to do but if the bill is signed, they won't beg again because there is provision for them"
Some of the provisions will make us free from any discrimination, we'll be releived, we will be confident to play our part as a part of the society and also contribute our quota regardless of our status and disability"
Akanmu Dauda, cripple noted, "We want the government to sign the bill, we want empowerment, we don't want our counterparts to beg for food again, we want to have a movement like others in other states in the southwest, we are pleading with the governor to listen to our plea"
Government Wades in
After long agitation by the people shouting, "we want our bill to be passed to law" The head of service in Osun state, Dr festus Oyegbade waded in and addressed the people, assuring them of passing the bill to law.
He said, "I want to tell you tbat this administration has taken the affairs of those people with disabilities very serious, you will recall that during the recruitment of teachers, the governor gave a directive that all people that are having any form of challenges, that applied for teaching appointment should be given automatic employment, and I want to tell you that all of those people that participated in the interview have been given employment appointment, some that sought for assistance of Mr Governor are given the attention"
He explained that the insurance policy 2 has also been extended to people with disability.
"The coverage area of our insurance policy 2 has been extended to persons with disabilities in the state, and I must let you know that the state government has paid their capitation due, which gives them the opportunity to be registered free by our health insurance agency"
I want to cease this opportunity to let you know that apart from the people that have registered in that scheme, opportunity are equally available for those people that are yet to registered for health insurance scheme and it's going to be free for all physically challenged in the state, because their health is very important to the governor"
Mr governor loves you, commissioner for justice loves you, now that you want your disability bill to be signed to law, I want to tell you in the next executive meeting, your bill will be presented"
Speaking further, Festus noted that the first lady of Osun state, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola has helped a mentally disabled pregnant woman, whose health was taken care of and child was sponsored in school.
"You recall now that there's an incident when the first lady of Osun state, Kafayat Oyetola discovered that someone who was pregnant was having mental health challenge, brought her to justice, rehabilited her and she's now normal, and the child is now enjoying free education in the state"
That is the family that is in charge of the state, very humane and compassionate, as soon as Mr governor comes back today, your message will be delivered to him and your bill will be signed to law before his first tenure, please be comporting yourself like you have been doing"
He thereby assure the people that the bull will be tendered and will pass through due stages before it will be signed to law
"When the bill leaves the executives, through the signature of governor, it will go through tbe first reading, second reading and third reading, there will be committee stage and the publicity the state doesn't have the power to make it an act, it has already being made an act".
