Sept 22: People with disabilities in Lagos have called upon the Lagos State government to implement the Disability Law without further delay.

The law, which was signed by the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on June 24, 2011; is yet to be implemented almost three months after he gave assent to the bill.

While expressing his grievance, David Anyaele, executive director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities said, “our organization, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) had on July 11, 2011 invited the governor of Lagos State for a townhall meeting for September 13, 2011 as part of our activities for this year’s disability awareness week. “Our aim was to discuss on the government blue print for the implementation of the Lagos State Special People’s law 2010 and the role of Ministries, departments, agencies and civil society organisations for the smooth takeoff for the implementation of the disability law. ”The Governor, through his deputy chief of staff wrote and advised us to liaise with the deputy governor for further actions on the townhall meeting. “Also, staff of Deputy Governor’s Office visited our office for discussion on the modalities for the meeting which we shared with them with the hope that the deputy governor was coming for the meeting.

The event was eventually postponed due to non-response from the Round House Alausa, Ikeja.” Mr Anyaele expressed his dismay that their invitation was treated with levity when he thought that disability issues were becoming a priority in Lagos State. According to him, their worry is that this law may be jettisoned like the first disability law. Yet Another Disability Law The former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, signed the first disability law in Lagos State, the Disabled Persons Welfare (Enhancement) Law, on October 17, 2003 and it is yet to be implemented.

The Lagos State Special People’s Law 2010 is the second disability law in Lagos State it contains provisions that would ensure people living with disabilities in Lagos State are protected against discrimination and harmful treatment, cruelty and inhuman treatment, provision of facility at public building, protection at situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies, provision for adequate standard of living and social protection. Also, the law provides for the right of children with disabilities, right to health, education, work and employment, right to drive, right to communication, rights to communal life, right to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure/sport and a dedicated Office for Disability Affairs to address complaints of harassment, discrimination and harmful practices, amongst others. “We call on Governor Babatunde Fashola to commence without further delay the appointment of the members of the board of the Office of Disability Affairs,” said Mr Anyaele. “Also, we are demanding that all line ministries, departments and agencies should take adequate measure to ensure the full capturing of disability issues in their 2012 budget in the spirit of the law.” Bolade Moses, another person living with disability in the state said, “It is one thing to sign a bill into law and another for it to be implemented. “The Lagos State government raised our hopes when the bill was signed into law but it is very disappointing that since then, nothing has been done to implement it. No steps have been taken to ensure that the provisions of the law are carried out and we are very sad about this.”

Source: http://234next.com