By Raymond Mordi, Deputy Political Editor
A human rights organisation, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), has urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to address the needs of people living with disabilities (PWDs).
In a statement, the group’s Executive Director, Adewale Adeoye said it has just presented a report containing its recommendations to the president through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tunde Rahman and that PWDs across the country number over four million citizens and that they are confronted with challenges of exclusion from social and economic opportunities.
Adeoye said the copies meant for the National Assembly were sent through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters, Ibrahim Olarenwaju. He said JODER has been assured that the president and the National Assembly are determined at this point to address the needs of Nigerians living with disabilities to ensure greater socio-economic opportunities.
The statement quoted Rahman as saying that the Tinubu-led administration is unwavering in its commitment to address the fears and aspirations of PWDs. He said the president is deeply concerned about vulnerable communities, including, but not limited to PWDs.
Adeoye who made the presentation in Abuja during the week described Rahman as a man with a rare sense of honesty, dedication, loyalty and uprightness, adding that he continues to command the respect of top media practitioners and the civil rights movement in Nigeria.
Rahman noted that the media has an important role to play in highlighting the plight of PWDs to ensure they are fully integrated into the country’s social and economic framework. He said the president and the National Assembly are aware of the plights of PWDs. He urged members of civil society to work with the National Assembly in its determination to address the fundamental needs of PWDs.
Akin Rotimi, one of the youngest members in the House of Representatives, who also received the report said for the first time the National Assembly have younger people who are determined to address the plight of Nigerians in various sectors with a rare zeal and sense of deep patriotism.
The documents presented, according to the statement, included reports on the challenges faced by PWDs, expectations from the government, the society and the training manual for journalists reporting PWDs, as well as comprehensive information on the Community Support Centre and Awareness Creation for Children with Disabilities recently set up in Lagos with the support of the Ford Foundation West Africa Region.
Adeoye said Nigeria has already ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights of PWDs, while at the local level, the Nigerian government has signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2018 plus the Lagos State Special People Law. (Nation)
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