Ebonyi State government has reiterated her prepardndness to take concrete steps to protect the rights of persons with disabilities by passing the long-awaited Disability Rights Commission bill into Law.
Commissioner for grants and donor Agencies, Hon. Solomon Azi made this known while receiving a delegation led by Comrade Oluchi Nwite, Project Lead of Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth with Disabilities, alongside representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for the domestication of the disability bill in the state.
Azi maintained that Ebonyi remains the only state in the Southeast yet to enact the law, despite persons with disabilities making up 4% of the state’s population.
The commissioner stressed that the passage of the bill’s would unlock access to grants and special opportunities designed to uplift PWDs.
He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for his approval of the bill’s transmission and assured the delegation that the administration, guided by its People’s Charter of Needs, would prioritize inclusiveness, transparency, and social protection.
There are certain grants meant for persons with disabilities, but they cannot access them because the law is not yet in place. The only way to change this is to ensure the law is promulgated,” Azi explained.
While assuring them of the government’s commitment, Azi also issued a strong warning, urging PWDs to avoid any form of criminal activity.
“The government is working for your well-being, but we will not tolerate any criminality. This administration does not support such acts,” he cautioned.
The State Executive Council recently approved the establishment of the Ebonyi State Disability Rights Commission Law, directing the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to transmit the executive correspondence to the House of Assembly for legislative action.
Oluchi Nwite, while addressing journalists, described the 12-year advocacy struggle for the bill and expressed optimism that with the current government’s support, it would finally become law.
“This bill is a necessity, not a privilege. It is what the people want, and we hope for an accelerated passage,” she stated.
The meeting also included key stakeholders such as the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and other advocacy groups working towards the protection and empowerment of PWDs in the state.