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Health

Corruption, major cause of poverty in Nigeria, says NGO

Mr David Anyaele,  Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD. [/caption

By Michael Ajayi/ Vivian Ihechu
Corruption
Lagos, Dec. 3, 2019 (NAN) As the world commemorates the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities on Tuesday, an NGO, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has described corruption as the major cause of poverty in Nigeria.

Mr David Anyaele, the CCD Executive Director, made the assertion on Tuesday at a symposium to commemorate the 2019 Disability Awareness Week/International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos.

Anyaele called on persons with disabilities to participate in the current administration’s fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Theme for the Week is: “The Way Forward: Nigeria Disability Act as a Panacea to Corruption as it Relate to Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day for Persons with Disabilities is marked annually on Dec. 3.

Speaking with NAN, Anyaele said that PWDs participation in the fight against corruption would reduce the incidence of poverty, because disability causes poverty and vice versa.

“The incidence of disability will reduce as some state institutions are using people with disabilities to misappropriate funds that are meant for PWDs.

“What that means is that, by reasons of not utilising what has been earmarked in the budget, they have succeeded in increasing their poverty, and other chances of getting more disability in their life.

“That is why persons with disabilities have to take the issue of corruption and fight against corruption very seriously.’’

Anyaele said that there was urgent need to institute the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

According to him, the none constitution of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is increasing incidence of disability in the community.

“The reason is because persons with disabilities need government to implement the Disability Act and non implementation of the Act predisposes people with disabilities to negative impact of corruption.

“The implication is that resources that are ordinarily supposed to be used to support them will not be used because there is no commission or Board of Commission to take care of it.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on people in power to take appropriate steps to constitute the board to reduce the hardship of people living with disabilities in this country,’’ he said.

Similarly, the CCD Executive Director also called on the Lagos State Government to constitute a board for the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA).

“The LASODA Board expired with the last administration and it is important to constitute a board and appoint competent persons to head the establishment.

“The none constitution of LASODA Board is hindering the administrative activities of the agency; they cannot take any policy decisions or actions around people with disability in the state.

“It means that people with disabilities are not benefitting in the administration of this government,’’ Anyaele said.

Earlier at a panel session, the EFCC Assistant Director (Legal), Lagos State Office, Mr Kabir Elelu, commended the CCD for its efforts geared toward the enactment of the Disability Act 2018 of PWDs.

Elelu also said there was an urgent need for the establishment of the commission.

According to him, it is the body saddled with the implementation and overseeing the achievement of the act.

In his keynote address, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said that disability was also a cause and consequence of poverty.

“This is due to limited access to education, employment, medical care, nutritious food and accessible environment,” Onigbanjo said.

He said that causes of disability include trauma, genetic disorder, malnutrition, environmental hazards, natural disasters, traffic and industrial accidents, civil conflict and war.

Onigbanjo, represented by Ms Biola Oseni, Director, Citizens Right, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said that PWDS deserve special attention.

“This is to enable them to participate in the mainstream of development and lead a life with dignity and self-esteem.

“People are disabled by society, not just by their bodies; these barriers can be overcome, if governments, NGOs, professionals and PWDs and their families work together.

“PWDs are not heroes, they are not victims; there is a thin line between ability and disability.

“An individual can be able-bodied today and disabled tomorrow; therefore, the issue of inclusion and protection of PWDs involves all and sundry,’’ he said. (NAN)
MA/VIV/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Health

Minister task stakeholders on implementation of Persons With Disabilities Act

Minister task stakeholders on implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Disabilities
Abuja, March 28, 2019 (NAN) The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, has tasked stakeholders on proper implementation of the Persons With Disabilities Act and prosecution of violators.
Abubakar gave the task during a stakeholders meeting and development of an implementation strategy for popularisation of the Discrimination against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act on Thursday in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Rehabilitation, Mrs Nkechi Onuwukwe, the minister said the meeting was aimed at acquainting stakeholders with the provisions of the Act and to come up with a drafting imply strategy for the new Act.
“The signing of the Nigerian Disability Law by the President has demonstrated this administration’s transparency and empathy towards this vulnerable group.
“It is the first time in the history of our nation that PWDs are being given their rightful place and attention officially focused on them to highlight their issues and concerns.
“Thus, in a bid to popularise some of the provisions of the new Act, among stakeholders, and equally develop implementation strategies in order to prioritise some the provisions, this meeting has become very important,’’ she said.
Abubakar however called on the stakeholders to work together to ensure that millions of Nigerians living with disabilities were given a sense of belonging, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve.
The Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind, FCT, Mr Ekujeronye Obinna, said although the bill had lingered for 18 years, appreciated the president for signing the bill into law.
“No stone should be left unturned, the implementation should be done to fullest and the establishment of Commission for PWDs will address the plight of PWDs in the country.
“At least PWDs who are educated could have jobs and it will go a long way to address unemployment,’’ he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, who was represented by the Assistant Director Rehabilitation, Mr Sunday Hezekiah, said the meeting would awake the consciousness and responsibilities towards the global realisation PWDs welfare and the need to pay attention as one of the most important social units of every community. (NAN)
OEO/FF/MST
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Election: Committee wants INEC to address barriers for persons with disabilities

Election: Committee wants INEC to address barriers for persons with disabilities
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Election
Abuja, March 14, 2018 (NAN) The House Committee on Electoral and Political Parties Matters on Wednesday advised INEC to address the barriers for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) for better participation in the forthcoming general election.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Aishatu Dukku, made the call at the first edition of “Access Nigeria: Disability votes matters’’ quarterly meeting organised by Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in Abuja.
She said the issue of widespread of barriers to PWD participation in elections, including inaccessible polling units and absence of braille or tactile ballots should be properly addressed, adding there should proper data.
“Nigeria and its citizens must be able to reflect on the barriers that PWD face in political and electoral processes and partner with relevant stakeholders to remove these barriers.
“Nigeria’s 27 million PWDs are willing, able and ready to participate in their country’s political and processes as voters, candidates and election observers,’’ she said.
Dukku said there was need to establish legal rights of people with PWD as bona fide members of the society, saying the society must make certain changes to enable them participate more meaningfully in secular activities which includes the electoral process.
She said voting was not just about casting ballots, it is about belonging to the race, adding that it is important they contribute their quota to national development.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by the Chairman, Partnership and Outreach of the commission, Mr Adekunle Ogunmola, said the commission had initiated several measures to ensure that PWDs are mainstreamed into the electoral process.
He said it was achieved through the widespread targeted voters education and sensitisation of PWDs in the country.
“The commission is already working on INEC framework on access and participation of PWDs in the electoral process which will be launched any moment from now,” he said.
The Civil Society and Media Specialist of USAID, Mrs Funke Baruwa, said PWDs are key participants in building vibrant, responsive democracy in the country.
She said under the Nigerian law , everyone regardless of social, physical, religious, ethnic, cultural or political affiliation was entitled to participate in the democratic process.
The Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Mrs Grace Jerry, called on development partners to work together and gather the data that would allow INEC to properly plan and provide material.
“We desire to get commitments from National Assembly on the status of the National Disability Bill which will ensure that PWDs in the country climb above certain barriers.
“Section 56 (2) of the Electoral Act needs to be amended to ensure that off-sight voting, provision of braille and or tactile are mandatory for voters with disabilities.
“Election can only be free, fair and credible when they reflect the representation of the populace, PWDs representation inclusive,” she said. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola