PWDs urged Gov Fintiri on Adamawa disability commission

  The Advocacy for Disability Act (ADAC), a consortium of five Civil Society Organizations (CSO) have called on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to expedite action on the creation of a disability commission in the state. They made the call during a ‘Disability Solidarity Walk on the Establishment of the Adamawa State Disability Commission’. The CSOs […]

 

The Advocacy for Disability Act (ADAC), a consortium of five Civil Society Organizations (CSO) have called on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to expedite action on the creation of a disability commission in the state.

They made the call during a ‘Disability Solidarity Walk on the Establishment of the Adamawa State Disability Commission’.

The CSOs are El-New Hope Foundation, Abia State; Global Youth Empowerment and Vulnerable Initiative, Adamawa State; Lawanti Development Community Foundation, Gombe State; Center for Peace Education and Community Development, Taraba State and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Abuja.

The Cluster is implementing the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) through Palladium and funded by USAID.

The program was conducted by ADAC and the Adamawa structures of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and other organizations of PWDs, CSOs and other concern groups.

Executive Director IFA and ADAC Cluster Anchor, Grace Jerry, said that the ADAC is aware of the inclusive steps of Governor Fintiri administration especially after it paid advocacy call to some key government officials before and after the re-election of the governor.

“The involvement of the community in the distribution of palliative material, employment opportunities and other empowerment programs however, we encourage His Excellency to engrave his name in history by establishing a Disability Commission which is in accordance to the Adamawa Disability Law of 2016 and make to enlist the state among inclusive state in the country,” Jerry said.

She urged Governor Fintiri to speedly fulfill his commitment made on his X handle formerly called Twitter that “Our government remains committed to fostering policies and programmes for an enhanced standard of living. Let’s collaborate to build an inclusive and supportive society for all”.

Jerry said that establishing the Adamawa State Disability Commission is a right step in fostering policies that enhance standard of living which is the desire of Mr Governor.

“The implementation of the Adamawa State Disability Law will enhance the inclusive education, accessible health systems, closing the knowledge deficit that exists between the citizenry, stop discrimination of PWDs, create inclusive employment with reasonable accommodation, accessible systems and structures, and increase economic growth of the state thereby reducing insecurity,” she said.

She also called on private sector to provide PWDs oriented programming through the use of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and on the citizenry to increase their support to the sustainability of the government’s efforts for PWDs.

She said, “The religious and traditional institutions should support PWDs through increase sensitization using their structured platforms for behavioral change so as to eradicate discrimination against PWDs and make worship centers accessible for all.”